JPH08251431A - Color conversion method and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve the usability for general users by setting a color conversion mode and displaying characters in the set color conversion mode so as to guide the procedure of color conversion. CONSTITUTION: When a touch key (b) for designating color conversion is depressed on a screen P330, a screen P340 is displayed, a point with color information desired of color conversion is pointed out by a pointer, a touch key (a) is depressed and a screen 370 is displayed. The screen 370 is a screen for designating a color after conversion, in which any of four kinds of colors as standard color designated color, registered color and white color is designated. When the standard color is selected for the color after conversion, one color displayed on a screen 390 is designated. Thus, a proper color conversion procedure is guided depending on the color conversion mode and an excellent operation environment is set even for an unskillful user.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color conversion method and an image processing method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional color conversion method is to print an input color signal of three color signals of yellow, magenta, and cyan in another color that does not correspond to each signal, and create an image of a color different from the input image. It was a thing. For example, by printing magenta with the yellow signal, cyan with the magenta signal, and yellow with the cyan signal, the red portion of yellow + magenta is magenta + cyan blue, and the blue portion of magenta + cyan is cyan + yellow. In green, the cyan + yellow green part was reproduced with yellow + magenta red.

However, in such a method, all the colors other than the single colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan are reproduced in colors different from the input image, so that only the specific color portion of the input image is switched to another color. It was impossible to output.

In recent years, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in color conversion processing, an area is designated by using a pointing device, only the designated area is subjected to color conversion processing, or a specific color in an input image is determined. A function for converting only the determined specific color is being developed.

[0005]

However, with the function UP of the color conversion processing, the operation method for performing the desired processing becomes complicated.

As a result, when the above-mentioned color conversion is introduced into a printer used only by an expert, it is not easy to use for a general user who is not used to a copying machine operated by a general user. It was not good, and there was room for improvement in the operating environment.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the first aspect of the present invention sets a color conversion mode and displays characters in the set color conversion mode.
It is characterized by guiding the procedure of color conversion. According to the second invention, the color processing setting mode for setting the color processing is selected by the instruction on the display, and the color processing method is interactively set by the instruction on the display based on the selection. An image processing is performed based on the set color processing method.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail below 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 part and a digital color image printing device (hereinafter, referred to as a color printer) 2 in the lower part. 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 electric 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 to a recording paper a plurality of times in a digital dot form for recording.

First, an outline of the color reader 1 will be described.

Reference numeral 3 is an original document, 4 is a platen glass on which the original document is placed, and 5 is for collecting a reflected light image from the original document exposed and scanned by the halogen exposure lamp 10 and inputting an image to the full-size full-color sensor 6. Is a rod array lens of
5, 6, 7, and 10 are combined as a document scanning unit 11 to perform 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 input to a video processing unit described later by a signal line 501 to be processed. Details will be described later. Reference numeral 501 is a coaxial cable for ensuring faithful transmission of signals. A signal 502 is a signal line for supplying a drive pulse of the full-size full-color sensor 6, and all 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 a white level and a black level of an image signal, which will be described later, and by irradiating with a halogen exposure lamp 10, a signal level of a predetermined density can be obtained respectively. Used for signal white level correction and black level correction. Reference numeral 13 denotes a control unit having a microcomputer, which controls the display on the operation panel 20 by the bus 508, the key input control and the control of the video processing unit 12, and the position sensors S1 and S2 to change the position of the document scanning unit 11 to the signal line 509. Stepping motor drive circuit control for pulse driving the stepping motor 14 for moving the scanning body 11 by the signal line 503 for detection, and ON / OFF of the halogen exposure lamp 10 by the exposure lamp driver via the signal line 504. All controls of the color reader unit 1 such as control, light amount control, control of the digitizer 16 and internal keys via the signal line 505, and display unit are performed. The color image signal read by the exposure scanning unit 11 at the time of original 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 the unit 12. And sent to the printer unit 2 via the interface circuit 56.

Next, the outline of the color printer 2 will be described. Reference numeral 711 denotes a scanner, which is a laser output unit for converting an image signal from the color reader 1 into an optical signal, a polyhedral (eg, octahedral) polygon mirror 712, and this mirror 71.
It has a motor (not shown) for rotating 2 and an f / θ lens (image-forming lens) 713. Reference numeral 714 is a reflection mirror that changes the optical path of the laser beam, and 715 is a photosensitive drum. The laser light emitted from the laser output unit is reflected by the polygon mirror 712, and the lens 713 and the mirror 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.

Reference numeral 717 is a primary charger, 718 is a full-surface exposure lamp, 723 is a cleaner section for collecting the residual toner that has not been transferred, and a pre-transfer charger. These members are arranged around the photosensitive drum 715. Has been done.

Reference numeral 726 denotes a developing device unit for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 715 by laser exposure, and 731Y, 731M, 731C, 731.
Bk is a developing sleeve that is 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 screw that transports developer, and these sleeves 730Y ~ 730Bk, toner hopper 730Y ~ 7
The developing device unit 726 is composed of 30 Bk and the screw 732, 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. Body 7
The developing sleeve 7 in the magenta developing device at a position in contact with 15.
13M is installed. Cyan and black development work similarly.

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

On the other hand, reference numerals 735 and 736 are paper feed cassettes for storing paper sheets (paper sheets), and 737 and 738 are cassettes 73.
Paper feed rollers for feeding paper from 5, 736, 739, 7
Reference numerals 40 and 741 denote timing rollers for timing of feeding and conveying, and the sheet fed and conveyed through these is guided to a paper guide 749 and wrapped around the transfer drum 716 while the leading end is carried by a gripper described later. , Shift to the image formation process.

A drum rotation motor 550 synchronously rotates the photosensitive drum 715 and the transfer drum 716. 75
0 is a peeling claw that removes the paper from the transfer drum 716 after the image forming process, 742 is a conveyor belt that conveys the removed paper, and 743 is an image fixing unit that fixes the paper conveyed by the conveyor belt 742. Yes, image fixing unit 7
43 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 a lamp driver 2 for video signal processing control, exposure and scanning.
1, control of the stepping motor driver 15, the digitizer 16, and the operation panel 20 are performed through signal lines 508, respectively.
Program ROM 23, RAM 24, RA to obtain a desired copy via the (bus), 504, 503, 505, etc.
Organically controlled according to M25. RAM25 is battery 3
No. 1 guarantees non-irradiance. Reference numeral 505 is a signal line for serial communication that is generally used and is input by the operator from the digitizer 16 according to the protocol between the CPU 22 and the digitizer 16. That is, reference numeral 505 is a signal line for inputting coordinates, an area instruction, a copy mode instruction, a magnification change instruction, and the like when an original is edited, for example, moved or combined. A signal line 503 is a signal line for instructing the motor driver 15 from the CPU 22 such as scanning speed, distance, forward and backward movements, and the motor driver 15 sends a predetermined pulse to the stepping motor 14 in response to an instruction from the CPU 22. Input and give motor rotation operation. The serial I / Fs 29 and 30 are generally realized by a serial I / F LSI such as Intel 8251. Although not shown, the digitizer 16 and the motor driver 15 have similar circuits. are doing. The protocol of the interface 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 original exposure scanning unit (FIG. 111), and
At the home position, the white level of the image signal is corrected at this position. S2 is a sensor for detecting the presence of the document exposure scanning unit at the leading edge of the image,
This position becomes the reference position of the document.

(Printer Interface) Signals ITOP, BD, VCLK, VIDEO, HSY in FIG.
NC and SRCOM (511 to 516) are shown in FIG.
This is an interface signal between the color printer unit 2 and the reader unit 1. All the image signals VIDEO 514 read by the reader unit 1 are sent to the color printer unit 2 based on the above signals. ITOP is a synchronizing signal in the image feeding direction (hereinafter referred to as the sub-scanning direction), and is once for sending one screen, that is, four colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, B).
Each time the image is sent out in k), it occurs once, four times in total. This is because the paper front end of the transfer paper wound around the transfer drum 716 of the color printer unit 2 forms a toner image at the contact point with the photosensitive drum 715. When receiving the transfer, it is synchronized with the rotations of the transfer drum 716 and the photosensitive drum 715 so that the position of the image on the leading edge of the original matches the position of the original, the image is sent to the video processing unit in the reader 1, and further interrupted by the CPU 22 in the controller 13. Is input (signal 511). CPU22 is IT
Image control in the sub-scanning direction for editing etc. is performed based on the OP interrupt. BD 512 is 1 of polygon mirror 712.
It is a synchronization signal in the raster scan direction (hereinafter referred to as the main scanning direction) that occurs once per rotation, that is, once per raster scan, and the image signal read by the reader unit 1 is one line in the main scanning direction. Are sent to the printer unit 2 in synchronism with the BD. VCLK 513 is a synchronous clock for sending the 8-bit digital video signal 514 to the color printer unit 2, and for example, the video data 51 via the flip-flops 32 and 35 as shown in FIG.
4 is sent out. The HSYNC 515 is produced in synchronization with the VCLK 513 from the BD signal 512. It is a synchronization signal in the main scanning direction, has the same cycle as BD, and has a VIDEO signal 5
Strictly speaking, 14 is transmitted in synchronization with HSYNC 515. Since the BD signal 515 is generated in synchronization with the rotation of the polygon mirror, a lot of jitter of the motor for rotating the polygon mirror 712 is included, and if the BD signal 515 is synchronized with the BD signal as it is, jitter occurs in the image. HS generated in synchronization with VCLK, which has no jitter in
This is because YNC515 is required. SRCOM is a signal line for half-duplex bidirectional serial communication.
A synchronization signal C sent from the reader unit as shown in (C)
The command CM is transmitted in synchronization with the 8-bit serial clock SCLK during BUSY (command busy), and the printer unit responds to SBUSY (status busy).
Status S in synchronization with the 8-bit serial clock
T is returned. This timing chart shows that the status "3CH" is returned in response to the command "8EH", and an instruction from the reader unit to the printer unit, for example, a color mode, cassette selection, and status information of the printer unit, such as a jam, is given. , Paperless, weight and the like are all exchanged through this communication line SRCOM.

FIG. 4A shows a timing chart for sending out one full-color 4-color image based on ITOP and HSYNC. The ITOP 511 is one of the transfer drums 716.
A yellow image, which occurs once every two rotations or
Then, the magenta image, the cyan image, and the Bk image data are sent from the reader unit 1 to the printer unit 2,
A full-color image of four-color superposition is formed on the transfer paper. For example, if HSYNC is 420 mm in the longitudinal direction of the A3 image and the image density in the feeding direction is 16 pel / mm,
It is sent out 420 × 16 = 6720 times, and at the same time, the clock is input to the timer circuit 28 in the controller circuit 13. This counts a predetermined number and then interrupts HINT 517 to the CPU 22. . 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 is first illuminated by the exposure lamp 10 (FIGS. 1 and 2), the reflected light is color-separated for each image and read by the color reading sensor 6 in the scanning unit 11, and amplified to a predetermined level by the amplification circuit 42. To be done. 41 is a CCD that supplies a pulse signal for driving the color reading sensor
A 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. 6A shows a color reading sensor used in this example, which is 62.5 μm (1/16
(mm) is one pixel, and 1024 pixels, that is, one pixel is divided into three in the main scanning direction by G, B, and R as shown in the figure, so that the total number of effective pixels is 1024 × 3 = 3072. On the other hand, the chips 58 to 62 are formed on the same ceramic substrate, and the first, third and fifth sensors (58, 60,
62) is on the same line LA, the second and fourth are LA and 4
The lines are arranged on the line LB separated by the line (62.5 μm × 4 = 250 μm), and when reading a document, the arrow AL
Scan in the direction. Each of the five CCDs has a drive pulse group ODRV518 at the first, third and fifth positions and an ED at the second and fourth positions.
Driven independently and synchronously by the RV519. O01A, O02A included in ODRV518,
E01A, E02 included in ORS and EDRV519
A and ERS are a charge transfer clock and a charge reset pulse in each sensor, which are the first, third, fifth, and second,
Due to mutual interference with the fourth and noise limitation, they are generated in perfect synchronization so as not to cause jitter in each other. Therefore, these pulses are generated from one reference oscillator OSC 58 '(FIG. 5). FIG. 7A shows ODRV518 and EDRV51.
FIG. 7B is a circuit block for generating 9 and is a timing chart, which is included in the system control pulse generator 57 in FIG. A clock K0535 obtained by dividing the original clock OLK0 generated by the single OSC 58 '.
Is a clock that generates reference signals SYNC2 and SYNC3 that determine the generation timing of ODRV and EDRV.
YNC2 and SYNC3 are presettable counters 64 set by a signal line 539 connected to the CPU bus.
The output timing is determined according to the set value of 65, and SY
NC2 and SYNC3 initialize the frequency dividers 66 and 67 and the drive pulse generators 68 and 69. That is, since the HSYNC 515 input to this block is used as a reference, all are generated by CLK0 output from one oscillation source OSC and the divided clocks that are generated in synchronization with each other.
The respective pulse groups of 518 and EDRV519 are obtained as synchronized signals with no jitter, and signal disturbance due to interference between sensors can be prevented. Here, the sensor drive pulse ODRV518 obtained in synchronization with each other is 1,
The EDRV 519 is supplied to the 2nd and 4th sensors to the 3rd and 5th sensors, and each sensor 58, 59, 60, 61, 6 is supplied.
Video signals V1 to V5 are independently output from 2 in synchronization with the drive pulse, and are amplified to a predetermined voltage value by the independent amplifier circuit 42 for each channel shown in FIG. 540, and the coaxial cable 501 (see FIG. OOS5 of FIG. 6 (b) through 1)
Signals of V1, V3, and V5 at the timing of 29 and signals of V2 and V4 at the timing of EOS 534 are transmitted and input to the video processing unit.

The color image signal obtained by reading the original input to the video processing unit 12 by dividing it into five parts is G (green), B (blue), R (red) in the sample hold circuit S / H43. It is separated into three colors. Therefore, after S / H, the signal processing system becomes 3 × 5 = 15 systems. FIG. 52 shows a timing chart for obtaining the digital data A / Dout that has been input and sampled for one channel, amplified, and then input to the A / D conversion circuit 45 to be multiplexed. FIG. 8 shows a processing block diagram.

The analog color image signals read by the above-mentioned 5-chip equal-magnification color sensor are input to the analog color signal processing circuit of FIG. 8 for each 5 channels. Since the circuits A to E corresponding to the respective channels are the same circuit, the circuit A will be described with reference to the waveform timing of FIG. The input analog color signals are in the order of G → B → R as shown in FIG. 52 SiGA, and the sample hold circuit (S / H) 250 samples and holds pulses SHG535, SHB536, SHR537 for each color.
Convert each color into parallel with. Figure 52 VDG1, VDB
1, VDR1 (538 to 540) Here, the signals 538 to 540 separated for each color are adjusted by the amplifiers 251 to 253 for offset (O characteristics in FIG. 52), and then the low pass filters (LPF) 254 to 256 exclude signal components. After the cassette of the frequency band is adjusted, the gains are adjusted by the amplifiers 257 to 259 (characteristics shown in FIG. 53G), and then the pulses GSEL, BSEL, and RSEL are re-multiplexed into a signal of one system.
By (544 to 546), the MPX260 becomes one system, A / D-converted and converted into a digital value (ADOU).
T547). In this configuration, since the MPX260 multiplexes and then performs A / D conversion, color signals of 15 channels of G, B, and R for each of the three colors, 15 channels in total, are performed by the five A / D converters. The same applies to the B to E circuits.

Next, in the present embodiment, as described above, there are five staggered sensors having an interval of 4 lines (62.5 μm × 4 = 250 μm) in the sub-scanning direction and divided into 5 regions in the main scanning direction. Since the document is being read, as shown in FIG. 9, the reading position is shifted between the channels 2 and 4 which are being scanned in advance and the remaining channels 1, 3 and 5. Therefore, in order to connect this correctly, a memory for a plurality of lines is used. FIG. 54 shows a memory configuration of this embodiment,
Numerals 74 to 74 are memories respectively storing a plurality of lines and have a FiFo configuration. That is, 70, 72, 7
4 is one line of 1024 pixels for 5 lines, 71, 7
3 has a capacity of 15 lines and is a last pointer WPO.
Data is written line by line from the point indicated by 75 and WPE76, and when the writing for one line is completed, WPO or WPE is incremented by one. WPO75
Are common to channels 1, 3, 5 and WPE 76 is common to 2, 4.

OWRST540 and EWRST541 are signals for initializing the values of the line pointers WPO75 and WPE76 and returning them to the beginning.
RST543 is a read pointer (pointer at the time of reading)
Is a signal that returns the value of to the beginning. Now, channel 1 and channel 2 will be described as an example. As shown in FIG. 9, channel 2 precedes channel 1 by four lines, so channel 2 reads the same line, for example, line Fi.
Channel 1 reads the line four lines after writing to the Fo memory 71. Therefore, if WPE is advanced by 4 from the write pointer WPO to the memory, if the same read point value is read when reading from the FiFo memory, the same line is read by channels 1, 3, 5 and channels 2, 4. The deviation in the sub-scanning direction is corrected. For example, in FIG. 54, the channel 1 has the WPO in the head line 1 of the memory, and at the same time, the channel 2 has the WPE pointed to the fifth line 5 from the head. If you start from this point, WPO
When 5 indicates 5, WPE points to 9, and both pointers write lines on the document in 5 areas.
It is only necessary to cyclically read while advancing both O and RPE (read pointer). FIG. 55 is a timing chart for performing the above-mentioned control, and image data is sent line by line in synchronization with HSYNC 515. The EWRST 541 and OWRST 540 are generated with a deviation of 4 lines as shown in the figure, and the ORST 542
Is the capacity of the FiFo memory 70, 72, 74, and therefore 5
For each line, ERST 543 is generated every 15 lines for similar reasons. On the other hand, when reading out, first channel 1
5 times faster for 1 line, then 1 line for channel 2, then 3 channels, 4 channels,
It is possible to sequentially read signals from 5 channels and obtain continuous signals of channels 1 to 5 during 1 HSYNC. Further, 1RD to 5RD (544 to 548) represent effective section signals of the read operation of each channel. The control signal for controlling the image connection between the channels using this FiFo memory is the memory control circuit 57 'shown in FIG.
Is generated by. 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 colors of the blue component, the green component and the red component of the image, but since they have the same structure, the description is limited to only one color.

FIG. 10 shows a black correction circuit. As shown in FIG. 56, 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 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 copying operation, the document 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 document table, the halogen is turned on, and the black level image signal is input to this circuit. The selector 82 selects A so that one line of this image data is stored in the black level RAM 78.

[0029]

[Outside 1] Close the gate 80

[0030]

[Outside 2] Open 81. That is, the data line is 551 → 552 → 553
Connected to the RAM, while HSYNC is used for the RAM address input.
So that the output of the address counter 84 initialized by

[0031]

[Outside 3] Is output and the black level signal for one line is stored in the RAM 78 (above black reference value fetch mode). At the time of image reading, the RAM 78 is in the data reading mode, and the data is read and input for each line and for each pixel to the B input of the subtractor 79 via the data line 553 → 557. That is, at this time, the gate 81 is closed and closed.

[0032]

[Outside 4] 80 opens

[0033]

[Outside 5] Therefore, the black correction circuit output 556 is the black level data DK.
In contrast to (i), for a blue signal, for example, Bin (i)-
It is obtained as DK (i) = Bout (i) (black correction mode). Similarly, 77 for Green Gin and Red Rin
Similar control is performed by G and 77R. In addition, the control line of each selector gate for this control

[0034]

[Outside 6] Is performed under CPU control by a latch 85 assigned as a CPU (FIG. 222) I / O.

Next, white level correction (shading correction) will be described with reference to FIGS. 11, 57 and 58. 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 document scanning unit is moved to a uniform white plate position and irradiated. The basic circuit configuration is shown in FIG. Although the basic circuit configuration is the same as that of FIG. 10, the correction is performed by the subtractor 79 in the black correction, whereas the difference is that the multiplier 79 ′ is used in the white correction. I will omit the explanation. 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 to correct the uniform white level image data for one line. It is stored in the RAM 78 '. For example, if the width in the longitudinal direction of the main scanning direction A4 is 16 pe
In 1 / mm, 16 × 297 mm = 4752 pixels, that is, at least the RAM has a capacity of 4752 bytes, and as shown in FIG. 57, white plate data Wi (i = 1 to 475) of the i-th pixel.
2), the RAM 78 'stores the data for the white plate for each pixel. On the other hand, for Wi, the corrected data Do for the read value Di of the normal image of the i-th pixel
= Di × FFH / Wi should be obtained. Then, from the CPU in the controller (Fig. 222), latch 85 '

[0036]

[Outside 7] , The gate 80 'is closed, the gate 81' is opened, and the selectors 82 'and 83' output so that B is selected. RA
N78 'is made CPU accessible. Next, the first pixel W
o for sequentially operation on the FFH / Wo, W ₁ and FF / W ₁ ... the replacement of the data. When the blue component of the color component image is finished (Step B in FIG. 58), similarly, the green component (Step G) and the red component (Step R) are sequentially performed, and then Do = Di × with respect to the original image data Di input thereafter.
Gate 80 'is opened so that FFH / Wi is output.

[0037]

[Outside 8] 81 'is closed

[0038]

[Outside 9] A is selected by the selector 83 ', and the coefficient data FFH / Wi read from the RAN 78' is signal line 553 → 55.
7 and the original image data 551 input from one side is multiplied and output.

With the above-described structure and operation, the speed can be increased and the correction can be performed for each pixel.

Further, in this configuration, image data for one line is input at high speed, and the CPU 22 makes RD, W
Since R is accessible, an arbitrary position on the document, for example, a point P at coordinates (xmm, ymm) on the document as shown in FIG.
When you want to detect the component of the image data of (16
XX) line, the scanning unit is moved, and this line is taken into the RAM 78 'by the same operation as described above and the data of the 16th (y) th pixel is read, so that B,
The component ratio of G and R can be detected (hereinafter, this operation is referred to as "line data fetching mode"). Further, those skilled in the art can easily infer that an average density histogram (hereinafter referred to as “average value calculation mode”) of a plurality of lines (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. Color image data that is uniform in the scanning direction and is proportional to the input light amount is input to the logarithmic conversion circuit 86 (FIG. 5) in accordance with the human eye's spectral luminous efficiency characteristics. Here, white = 00H,
An image source that is converted to black = FFH and is further input to the image reading sensor, for example, a normal reflective original and a transparent original such as a film projector, or even the same transparent original, a negative film, a positive film or film sensitivity and an exposure state Since the gamma characteristics input at are different, a plurality of LUTs (look-up tables) for logarithmic conversion are provided as shown in FIG. Switching is performed by changing the signal lines lg0, lg1, lg2 (5
60-562), I / O of CPU (22)
The port is performed by inputting an instruction from the operation unit or the like. Here, the data output to each of B, G, and R is
Corresponding to the density value of the output image, the output for B (blue) corresponds to the amount of yellow toner, the amount of magenta toner for G (green), and the amount of cyan toner for R (red). Therefore, the subsequent color image data is associated with Y, M, and C.

Image data of each color component from the original image obtained by logarithmic conversion, that is, a yellow component, a magenta component,
The following color correction is performed on the cyan component. As shown in FIG. 14, the spectral characteristic 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 toners (Y, M , C) also have unnecessary absorption components as shown in FIG. Therefore, for each color component image data Yi, Mi, Ci,

[0043]

[Outside 10] Masking correction for calculating a linear expression of each color and performing color correction is well known. Furthermore, by Yi, Mi, Ci, M
in (Yi, Mi, Ci) (minimum value of Yi, Mi, Ci) is calculated, and this is used as a smear (black), and black and toner are added later (smiking), and the added black component is added. Accordingly, an undercolor removal (UCR) operation for reducing the amount of each color material added is often performed. Masking, summing, UC in Figure 16
The circuit configuration of R is shown. The feature of this configuration is that it has two systems of masking matrix and can switch at a high speed "1/0" of one signal line. With or without UCR, one signal line is "1/0". It has two circuits that determine the amount of Sumi that can be switched at high speed, and can switch at high speed at "1/0". First, prior to image reading, a desired first matrix coefficient M ₁ and a desired second matrix count M ₂ are set from a bus connected to the CPU 22. In this example

[0044]

[Outside 11] However, M ₁ is set in the registers 87 to 95, and M ₂ is set in the registers 96 to 104. Also 111 to 122, 135, 131
Are selectors for selecting A when the S terminal = “1” and selecting B when the S terminal = “0”. Therefore, the matrix M ₁
Switching signal MAREA564 = “1”
In addition, when the matrix M ₂ is selected, it is set to “0”. Reference numeral 123 denotes a selector, which selects signals C ₀ and C ₁ (56
6, 567) based on the truth table of FIG.
b and c are obtained. The selection signals C ₀ , C _1, and C ₂ are, for example, Y, M, C, and Bk in the order of (C ₂ , C ₁ , C ₀ ) = (0, 0, 0) for the color signals to be output, (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. Now (C ₀ , C ₁ , C ₂ ) = (0,
0, 0) and MAREA = “1”, the outputs (a, b, c) of the selector 123 have registers 87, 8
The contents of 8, 89, and accordingly (a _Y1 , -b _M1 , -C _C1 ) are output. On the other hand, from the input signals Yi, Mi, Ci, Min
The black component signal 574 calculated as (Yi, Mi, Ci) = k is subjected to the linear transformation of Y = ax−b (a and b are constants) at 134, and the subtracter 1 (passes the selector 135).
It is input to the B inputs of 24, 125 and 126. In each of the subtractors 124 to 126, the undercolor is removed and Y = Yi− (ak−
b), M = Mi- (ak-b), C = Ci- (ak-
b) is calculated, and through the signal lines 577, 578 and 579, the multipliers 127, 128 and 12 for the masking operation are calculated.
9 is input. Selector 135 outputs signal UAREA5
Controlled by 65, the UAREA 565 has a configuration capable of switching UCR (undercolor removal), presence / absence, at high speed by "1/0". Multipliers 127, 128, 1
29, (a _Y1 , -b _M1 ,-
C _C1 ), B input to the above-mentioned [Yi- (ak-b), M
i- (ak-b), Ci- (ak-b)] = [Yi, M
i, Ci] are input, it is clear from the figure that the output Dout has a condition of C ₂ = 0 (YorMorC
Yout = Yi × (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 _{Mout = Yi × (-a Y2)} + Mi × (b M2) + Ci ×
(−C _C2 ) Cout = Yi × (−a _Y3 ) + Mi × (−b _M3 ) + Ci
× (C _C3 ) is output to Dout. As described above, the color selection is controlled by the CPU 22 according to the development order of the color printer (C ₀ , C ₁ , C ₂ ) according to the table of FIG.
The registers 105 to 107 and 108 to 110 are registers for forming a monochrome image, and MONO = k ₁ Yi + l ₁ Mi + m based on the same principle as the masking color correction described above.
Each color is obtained by weighted addition with ₁ Ci. Switching signal MAREA564, UAREA565, KAR
As described above, the EA587 switches the masking color correction coefficient matrixes M ₁ and M _{2 at} a high speed, and the UAREA 565.
KAREA58 with or without UCR
7 is the primary conversion switching of the black component signal (output to Dout through the signal line 569 → selector 131), that is, K
= Min (Yi, Mi, Ci), Y = ck-d or Y = ek-f (c, d, e, f are constant parameters) is a signal for switching the characteristics at high speed. The masking coefficient can be changed for each area, and the UCR amount or the smear amount can be switched for each area. Therefore, this is a configuration that can be applied when an image obtained from an image input source having different color separation characteristics, a plurality of images having different black tones, and the like are combined as in this embodiment. These are the area signals MAREA and UARE.
A and KAREA (564, 565, 587) are generated by the area generation circuit (FIG. 251) described later.

FIGS. 17 and 60, 61, and 62 show the area signal generation (the above-mentioned MAREA 564 and UAREA 56).
5, KAREA 587, etc.). The area refers to, for example, a hatched portion in FIG. 61, which is distinguished from other areas by a signal such as the timing chart AREA in FIG. 61 in each line in the sub-scanning direction A → B. To be done. Each area is designated by the digitizer 16 in FIG. 17 and 60 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,
One area signal is generated by 1 bit of RAM accessible to the CPU, and for example, n area signals AREA0 to AREA0.
In order to obtain AREAn, it has two RAMs of n-bit configuration (136, 137 in FIG. 60). Now, such a region signal AREA0 of Figure 17, and when the get AREAn, making a "1" in bit 0 of the address x _1, x ₃ of the RAM, and all bit 0 of the rest of the address "0".
On the other hand, "1" is assigned to the RAM addresses 1, x ₁ , x ₂ , x _4.
Then, all the bits n of other addresses are set to "0". Synchronized to a fixed clock with HSYNC as a reference,
When the data in the RAM is sequentially read out, for example, the data "1" is read out at the points of the addresses x ₁ and x ₃ . This read data is shown in FIG.
8-0 to 148-n JK flip-flops J and K
Since it is in both terminals, the output is toggle operation, that is, RA
When “1” is read from M and CLK is input, the output changes from “0” → “1”, “1” → “0”, and AREA
An interval signal such as 0, and thus a region signal, is generated. If data = "0" across all addresses, no area section is generated and no area is set. FIG. 60 shows this circuit configuration, and 136 and 137 are the above-mentioned RAMs. This is because in order to switch the area section at high speed, for example, while the data is being read from the RAMA 136 line by line, the CPU 22 has to be
As shown in FIG. 2, the memory writing operation for setting a different area is performed to alternately switch between the section generation and the memory writing from the CPU. Therefore, when the hatched area in FIG. 61 is designated, RAMA and RAMB are switched in the order of A → B → A → B → A.
_{If 3} , C ₄ , C ₅ ) = (0, 1, 0), then VCLK
The counter output counted at is given as an address to the RAMA 136 through the selector 139 (A
a), the gate 142 is opened, the gate 144 is closed, and the RAM
It is read from A136 and the total bit width, n bits is J-
It is input to the K flip-flops 148-0 to 148-n, and the section signals of AREA0 to AREAn are generated according to the set value. Writing from the CPU to B is performed by the address bus A-Bus, the data bus D-Bus, and the access signal R / W during this period. Conversely, RAMB13
When the section signal is generated based on the data set in 7, (C ₃ , C ₄ , C ₅ ) = (1, 0, 1), the same operation can be performed, and the data from the CPU to the RAMA 136 can be obtained. writing can be performed (hereinafter the two respective a-RAM of the RAM, B-RAM, a _{C 3, C 4, C 5} aRE
Called A control signal (ARCNT) ... C ₃ , C ₄ , and C ₅ are output from the I / O port of the CPU). FIG. 62 shows a correspondence table of each bit and signal name.

Next, the circuit configuration for color conversion will be described with reference to FIGS. 18, 63 and 64. Color conversion here means each color component data (Yi, Mi, Ci) input to this circuit.
When it has a certain specific color density, or when it has a color component ratio, it means replacing it with another color. For example, it means to change only the red (hatched portion) portion of the document of FIG. 63 to blue. First, each color data (Y
i, Mi, Ci) are averaging circuits 149, 150, 15
1 is averaged in units of 8 pixels, one of which is (Yi + Mi + Ci) calculated by the adder 155, and the dividers 152, 15
3 and 154 to the B input and the other to the A input respectively, and the input color component ratio is the yellow ratio ray = Yi / Yi +
Mi + Ci, magenta ratio ram = Mi / Yi + Mi +
Ci and cyan ratio rac = Ci / Yi + Mi + Ci are obtained as signal lines 604, 605, and 606, respectively, and input to the window comparators 156 to 158. Here, the comparison upper limit value and the lower limit value of each color component set from the CPU bus, and accordingly (yn, mu, cu) and (y
l, ml, cl) include the above ratio, that is, when yl ≦ ray <yu, output = “1”, ml ≦ r
When am <mu, the output = “1”, and when cl ≦ rac <cu, the output = “1”. When the above three conditions are met, it is determined that the input color is the desired color, and the 3-input AND 165 is used.
Becomes 1 and is input to the S ₀ input of the selector 175. The adder 155 outputs when the signal line CHGCNT607 output from the I / O port of the CPU 22 is "1".

[0047]

[Outside 12] When “0”, the output 603 = 1 is output. Therefore, when "0", the outputs of the dividers 152, 153, 154 are
The A input is output as it is. That is, at this time, not the desired color component ratio but the color density data is set in the registers 159 to 164. Reference numeral 175 denotes a selector having four inputs and one output. Desired color data after conversion is input to inputs 1, 2, and 3 as Y component, M component, and C component, respectively. Data Vin to which masking color correction and UCR have been applied to the original image is input and connected to Dout in FIG. Switching input S ₀
Has true color detection. That is, when a predetermined color is detected "1" and at other times "0", S ₁ is a region signal CHAREA ^O 615 generated by the region generation circuit of FIG. When it is "0" and "1", color conversion is performed, and when it is "0", it is not performed. The S ₂ and S ₃ inputs C ₀ and C ₁ (616 and 617) are C ₀ and C in FIG.
₁ signal is the same as (C ₀ , C ₁ ) = (0, 0),
When (0, 1) and (1, 0), yellow image formation, magenta image formation, and cyan image formation are performed by a color printer, respectively. The truth table of the selector 175 is shown in FIG. 63. The registers 166 to 168 set a desired color component ratio after conversion or color component density data from the CPU.
When y ', m', and c'are color component ratios, CHGCNT6
Since 07 = “1” is set, the output 6 of the adder 155 is 6
03 becomes (Yi + Mi + Ci), and the multipliers 169-1
Since it is input to the B input of 71, the selector inputs 1, 2,
3 are (Yi + Mi + Ci) × y ′ and (Yi +
Mi + Ci) × m ′ and (Yi + Mi + Ci) × c ′ are input and color conversion is performed according to the truth table 63. On the other hand, when y ′, m ′, and c ′ are color component density data, CHG
The signal 603 is set to "0" and the signal 603 is set to "1". Therefore, the outputs of the multipliers 169 to 171 and the selector 17 are set.
Data (y ', m', c ') are input to 5, 1, 3, and 5.
Is input as it is, and color conversion is performed by replacing the color component density data. Area signal CHAREA ⁰ 615
As described above, the section length and number can be set arbitrarily, so
By applying this color conversion only to a plurality of regions r ₁ , r ₂ and r ₃ as shown in FIG. 64 or preparing a plurality of circuits in FIG. 18, for example, the region r ₁ is red → blue and r _{2 is} inside. Is red → yellow, r ₃
Color conversion over multiple areas such as white → red and multiple colors inside is possible at high speed and in real time. This is provided with a plurality of color detection → conversion circuits that are the same as the circuits described above, and the selector 230 outputs the outputs A, B, C, and
Data required by D is selected by CHSEL0 and CHSEL1 and output to the output 619. The area signals applied to each circuit are CHAREA0-3 and CHSEL.
0 and 1 are also generated by the area generation circuit 51 as shown in FIG.

FIGS. 19, 65 and 66 show a gamma conversion circuit for controlling the color balance and color shading of an output image in this system, which is basically a LUT (look-up table) data conversion. Therefore, the LUT data is rewritten in association with the input designation from the operation unit. When writing data to the RAM 177 for LUT, the B input is selected by the selector 176 by setting the selection signal line RAMSL623 = “0”, and the gate 17
8 is closed and 179 is open, and bus AB from CPU 22
US and DBUS (address data) are connected to the RAM 177 to write or read data. RAMSL623 = after the conversion table is created
It becomes "1" and the video input from Din620 is RAM
It is input to the address input of 177, is addressed by the video data, and the desired data is output from the RAM and is input to the scaling control circuit of the next stage through the opened gate 178. In addition, this gamma RAM has yellow, magenta,
There are at least two types (Figs. 65A and B) of 5 types, cyan, black, and MONO.
As in FIG. 16, C ₀ , C ₁ , C ₂ (566, 567, 56
8) and by the GAREA 626 generated by the area generation circuit FIG. 60, for example, as shown in FIG. 65, the area A has a gamma characteristic of A and the area B has a gamma characteristic of B. It is a structure that can be obtained as a print.

This gamma RAM has a variable power characteristic of two types, A and B, so that it is possible to switch at high speed in each area.
By adding this, it is possible to switch more characteristics at high speed. The Dout 625 of FIG. 19 is input to the input Din 626 of the scaling control circuit of the next stage FIG.

As is apparent from the figure, the gamma conversion RAM is designed so that the characteristics can be switched individually for each color, and can be rewritten by the CPU 22 in association with the operation from the liquid crystal touch panel key on the operation panel. For example, the density adjustment key e on FIG. 33P000 (standard screen),
Alternatively, when the operator touches f from the center 0 to touching e, the setting moves to the left as -1 → -2 → as shown in FIG. 60, and the characteristics in the RAM 177 also change from −1 → -2 → -3 →. -4 is chosen and rewritten. On the contrary, when f is touched, the characteristic is selected as + 1 → + 2 → + 3 → + 4 and the RAM 177 is rewritten in the same manner. That is, in the standard screen, e
Alternatively, by touching the f key, 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 FIG. 37P420 (<color create> mode, color balance adjustment), only the area inside the RAM 177 is individually rewritten for each of Y, M, C, and Bk in order to adjust the color balance. That is, for example, pressing the case screen P420 in touch key y ₁ to change the color tone of the yellow component, the black strip display extends upwardly, conversion characteristics y ₁ direction, thus the yellow component is darker as in FIG. 66 4Y Direction, touch the touch key y ₂ to y
_The characteristics are selected in _two directions, and the yellow component becomes lighter. That is, in this operation, the density is changed only for the single color component, and the color tone is changed. The same applies to M, C, and Bk.

Reference numerals 180 and 181 in FIG. 20 denote FiFO memories each having a capacity of 16 × 297 = 4752 pixels with a width of 297 mm in the A4 longitudinal direction for one line, for example, 16 pel / mm in the main scanning direction, and AWE and BWE =.
Write operation to memory during "Lo", ARE, BRE =
Performs "Lo" section read operation, and ARE = "Hi"
The output of A when BRE = “Hi” and the output of B when BRE = “Hi” are in a high impedance state. Therefore, the respective outputs are wired-ORed and output as Dout627.
The FiFoA, FiFoB 180, and 181 respectively have a write address counter read address counter that operates internally with WCK and RCK (clock) (the internal pointer advances according to FIG. 67. The rate multiplier 6 for the video data transfer clock VCLK588 in the system to WCK
Give CLK thinned out at 30, VCLK588 to RCK
It is well known that if CLK that does not thin out is given, the input data to this circuit is reduced at the time of output, and if it is given the opposite, it is enlarged, and the read and write operations of FiFoA and FiFoB are alternately performed. Furthermore, FiFo memory 18
The W address counter 182 and the R address counter 183 in the 0, 181 enable signals (WE, RE ... 63).
5, 636) is counted by the clock only during the enable “Lo” section and is initialized by RST (634) = “Lo”. For example, as shown in FIG. Scan direction synchronization signal HS
YNC is used), and then the pixel data is written from the n _1st pixel to m pixels by AWE = “Lo” (same as BWE), and the n _2nd pixel from m pixels is ARE =
When pixel data is read out with "Lo" (same for BRE), the data moves from WRITE data to READ data in FIG. That is, in this way, AWE (and BWE), ARE
By varying the occurrence position and section of (and BRE), the image is arbitrarily moved in the main scanning direction as shown in FIG. 68, and the magnification is changed and moved by the combination with the aforementioned WCK or RCK thinning. Can be easily controlled. AWE, ARE, BWE, and BRE input to this circuit are generated as described above by the area generation circuit diagram 60.

20, 67, and 68, variable-magnification control is performed in the main scanning direction as needed, and then edge enhancement and smoothing processing are performed in FIGS. 21, 69, and 70. Is done. FIG. 21 is a block diagram of this circuit. Each of the memories 185 to 189 has a capacity for one line in the main scanning direction, and has a FiFo configuration in which a total of five lines are sequentially stored cyclically and output in parallel at the same time. . Reference numeral 190 denotes a commonly-used second-order differential spatial filter, which detects edge components, and outputs 646 the gain of the characteristic shown in the graph of FIG. The shaded portion in the graph of FIG. 21 is clamped to 0 in order to remove a small component, that is, a noise component, from the components output by edge enhancement. On the other hand, the buffer memory outputs for 5 lines are input to the smoothing circuits 191 to 195, averaged in pixel block units of 5 sizes shown in the drawing, each of which is 1 × 1 to 5 × 5. ~ 64
The desired smoothed signal among the five is selected by the selector 197. The SMSL signal 651 is the I / O of the CPU 22.
It is output from the port and controlled in association with the designation from the operation panel as described later. Further, 198 is a divider, for example, when 3 × 5 smoothing is selected, CP
When “15” is set by U22 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 gamma circuit shown in FIG.
RA in which data is written by the CPU 22 in the same manner as 9
M, and when the input EAREA 652 is set to “Lo”,
The output is "0". Furthermore, this edge enhancement control and smoothing control correspond to the LCD touch panel screen on the operation panel, and the screen of FIG. 69 (FIG. 2-7P
430) in the direction of <Sharpness> strength, 1, 2, 3, 4
Then, as the operator operates, the conversion characteristic of the gain circuit is rewritten by the CPU 22 as shown in the graph of FIG. On the other hand, 1'in the direction of <sharpness> weakness,
When operated by the operator 2 ', 3', 4 ', the switching signal SMSL652 of the selector 197 causes the smoothing block size to be 3 × 3, 3 × 5, 3 × 7,
It is selected to be as large as 5 × 5. 1 × 1 at center point C
Is selected, and gain circuit input EAREA651 = “L
O ”, the input Din is neither smoothed nor edge-enhanced, and is output as Dout to the output of the adder 199. In the present configuration, for example, moire generated on a halftone original is smoothed. Improved,
In addition, the sharpness is improved by performing edge enhancement on the character and line drawing parts. However, when the halftone dot document and the character line drawing are in the same document, smoothing is applied to improve moire, for example. The EAREA 651 and SMSL generated in the area generation circuit diagram 60 are improved in order to improve the defect that the moire is strongly generated when the character part is blurred and the edges are emphasized.
By controlling 652, for example, SMSL652
Select × 5 smoothing and use EAREA as shown in Fig. 69.
When 651 is generated as A ′ and B ′ and applied to the original of dot and character, moire is improved for the dot image and sharpness is improved for the character area. The signal TMAREA 660 is generated by the area generation circuit 51 similarly to the EAREA 651, and is output Dout = “A + B” when TMAREA = “1”, Do when TMAREA = “0”.
ut becomes “0”. Therefore, when a signal such as that shown in FIG.
When a signal such as -2 is generated, the shaded portion (inside the rectangle) is extracted (white).

Reference numeral 200 in FIG. 5 is an original coordinate recognition circuit for recognizing the coordinates of the four corners of the original placed on the original table. The original coordinates are held in an internal register (not shown). The coordinate data is read from the register. It is disclosed in detail in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-74774, so detailed description will be omitted. However, in the preliminary scan for recognizing the position of the original document, after the black correction and the white correction shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the masking calculation coefficients shown in FIG. 16 are monochrome with k ₁ , l ₁ , and m ₁ . select image data generation, figure C _0, C _1, C ₂ is (0,1,1), such that further not performed UCR (under color removal) UAREA565 =
By setting it to “Lo”, 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. Figure 5
From the CPU bus 508, the liquid crystal controller 201 of FIG.
And key matrix for key input and touch key input 2
The operation panel is controlled by a command given to the I / O port 206 for controlling the 09. The font to be displayed on the liquid crystal screen is stored in the FONT ROM 205, and C
RA is refreshed by the program from PU22
It is transferred to M204. The liquid crystal controller sends 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 pressed key is detected by the key scan which is generally performed, and the I / O port → CPU 2 is passed through the receiver 208.
Entered in 2.

FIG. 23 shows the configuration when the film projector 211 is mounted and connected to this system (FIG. 1).
The same reference numerals as those in FIG.
A mirror unit composed of 13 is placed, and the transmitted light image of the film 216 projected by the film projector 211 is scanned in the direction of the arrow by the document scanning unit described above, and is read in the same manner as the original document. Film 216
Is fixed by the film holder 215, and the lamp 212 is turned on / off by the lamp controller 212.
PJON65 from the I / O port of the CPU 22 (FIG. 2) in the controller 13 so that F and the lighting voltage are controlled.
5, PJCNT657 is output. The lamp controller 212 determines the lamp lighting voltage as shown in FIG. 24 by the value of the 8-bit input PJCNT657, and is normally controlled between Vmin and Vmax. At this time, the input digital data is D _{A to} D _B. FIG. 25 shows an operation flow for reading an image from the film projector and making a copy, and FIG. 71 shows a schematic timing chart. S
1, the operator sets the film 216 to the film projector 2
11 and set the shading correction (S2) and AE (S
The lamp lighting voltage Vexp is determined by 3), and the printer 2
Is activated (S4). Prior to the ITOP (image leading edge synchronization signal) signal from the printer, PJCNT = Dexp
As (corresponding to appropriate exposure voltage), the amount of light becomes stable during image formation. A Y image is formed by the ITOP signal, and is darkly lit by D _A (corresponding to the minimum exposure voltage) until the next exposure to prevent filament deterioration due to rush current when the lamp is lit and extend the life. . Thereafter, similarly, after the M image formation, the C image formation, and the black image formation (S7)
~ S12), PJCNT = “00” and the lamp is turned off.

Next, the procedure of AE and shading correction in the projector mode will be described with reference to FIGS. 29 and 73. When the operator selects the projector mode through 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 the cyan color correction filter set in the projector, set the unexposed portion (film base) of the film to be used in the film holder, and set the film ASA sensitivity to 100. Greater than or equal to less than 400 or 40
When selecting 0 or more and pressing the shading start button, the projector lamp lights up at the reference lighting voltage V ₁ . Here, the cyan filter cuts the orange base portion of the color negative film, and adjusts the color balance of the color sensor to which the R, G, B filters are 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 the film carrier 2 is other than the color negative film, set the film carrier 2 with the ND filter embedded (or no filter) and press the shading start key on the liquid crystal touch panel, then the projector lamp lights up at the reference lighting voltage V ₂ . . Actually, the operator may automatically switch the reference lighting voltages V ₁ and V ₂ by recognizing the type of the film carrier if the operator selects the negative film or the positive film. Next, the scanner unit is moved to the vicinity of the center of the image projection unit, the average value of one CCD line or a plurality of lines is taken into the RAM 78 'of FIG. 11 as shading data for each of R, G, and B, and the projector lamp is turned off.

Next, the image film 216 to be actually copied.
Is set on the film holder 215, and if the focus adjustment is necessary, the projector lamp is turned on by the lamp lighting button on the operation panel, the focus is adjusted visually, and then the lamp is turned off again by the lamp lighting button.

When the copy button is turned on, the projector lamp is automatically turned on at V ₁ or V ₂ according to the selection result as to whether the color negative is selected or not, and the pre-scan (AE) of the image projection unit is performed. The prescan is for determining the exposure level when the film to be copied is projected, and is performed by the following procedure. That is, the R signals of a plurality of predetermined lines in the image projection area are input by the CCD, and the R signal pair appearance frequency is accumulated.
A histogram such as that shown in FIG. 11 is created (“Histogram creation mode” in FIG. 11). Max from this histogram
The value is calculated, and the maximum and minimum R signal values Rmax and Rmin at which the histogram crosses the level of 1/16 of the max value.
Ask for. 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 = Rma for color or black and white positive film
x, black and white negative α = C ₁ / Rmin, ASA sensitivity 4
For color negatives less than 00 α = C ₂ / Rmin, AS
In the case of a color negative having an A sensitivity of 400 or more, α = C ₃ / Rmi
It is calculated as n. C ₁ , C ₂ and C ₃ are values determined in advance according to the gamma characteristic of the film, and are 255
The value is about 40 to 50 of the levels. The α value is converted into output data to the variable voltage power source of the projector lamp by a predetermined look-up table. Next, the projector lamp is lit by the lamp lighting voltage V thus obtained, and the logarithmic conversion table according to the film type and the masking coefficient shown in FIG.
6 is set to an appropriate value and the normal copying operation is executed. As shown in FIG. 3, the selection of the logarithmic conversion table is made such that eight kinds of tables of 1 to 8 are selected by a 3-bit switching signal, 1 is for a reflective original, 2 is for a color positive, and 3 is for a black and white positive. 4, a color negative (less than ASA400), 5 a color negative (ASA400 or more), 6 a black and white negative ... The contents are R,
G and B can be set independently. FIG.
3 shows an example of table contents.

With the above, the copying operation is completed. When transferring to the next film copy, the operator determines whether or not the film layer properties (negative / positive, color / black and white etc) change, and if it changes, the operation shown in FIG.

[0061]

[Outside 13] And if it doesn't change,

[0062]

[Outside 14] Return to and repeat the same operation again.

From the above, the film projector 211
By this, print output corresponding to each film of negative, positive, color, and black and white can be obtained. With this system, however, the film image is enlarged and projected onto the platen surface of the document, as shown in FIG. In addition, it is necessary to reproduce particularly smooth gradation from the application of film. Therefore, this system uses the following color LBP.
The gradation processing on the output side is different from that when printing from a reflection original. This is the printer controller 70
This is performed by the PWM circuit (778) included in 0.

Details of the PWM circuit 778 will be described below.

FIG. 26A is a block diagram of the PWM circuit,
FIG. 26B shows a timing chart.

The input VIDEO DATA 800 is latched by the latch circuit 900 at the rising edge of VCLK 801 and synchronized with the clock. (See (B) FIGS. 800 and 801) VIDEO output from the latch
LU with DATA815 as ROM or RAM
Tone correction is performed using T (lookup table) 901, and D
A / A (digital / analog) converter 902 performs D / A conversion to generate one analog video signal, and the generated analog signal is input to comparators 910 and 911 in the next stage and compared with a triangular wave described later. It The signals 808 and 809 input to the other side of the comparator are triangular waves (808 (809) in FIG. (B)) individually synchronized with VCLK and generated. That is, VCLK801
The synchronous wave 2VCLK 803 having a frequency twice as high as that of the triangular wave generating circuit 9 is divided in accordance with the triangular wave generating reference signal 806 obtained by dividing the synchronous clock 2VCLK 803 by 2 in the JK flip-flop 906.
Triangle wave WV1 generated in 08, the other is 2VCLK
Is a triangular wave WV2 generated by a triangular wave generation circuit 909 according to a signal 807 (see 807 in FIG. (B)) generated by dividing the frequency by 6 by the frequency dividing circuit 905. Each triangle wave and VIDEO
DATA is all VCLK as shown in FIG.
It is generated in synchronization with. Further, each signal is inverted by the HSYNC which is generated in synchronization with VCLK by the HSYNC 802 so as to synchronize the circuits 905 and 906 with each other.
Initialize at the timing of. With the above operation, CMP1
910, CMP2 911 outputs 810 and 811, depending on the value of the input VIDEO DATA 800,
A signal having a pulse width as shown in FIG. 72 is obtained. That is, in this system, when the output of the AND gate 913 in FIG. 9A 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. Not done. Therefore, the control signal LON (805)
You can control the turning off with. Figure 72: "Black" from left to right →
This shows a state in which the level of the image signal D changes 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, since the triangular wave is as WV1 in (a) and WV2 in (b), the pulse widths of the outputs of CMP1 and CMP2 become narrower as they move from “black” to “white” like PW1 and PW2, respectively. I'm becoming. Further, as is apparent from the figure, when PW1 is selected, dots on the print paper are formed at intervals of P ₁ → P ₂ → P ₃ → P ₄ , and the pulse width variation has a dynamic range of W1. On the other hand, PW
When 2 is selected, dots are formed at intervals of P ₅ → P ₆ ,
The dynamic range of the pulse width is W2, which is three 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 improved by about 3 times compared to when PW2 is selected, while when PW2 is selected,
Since the dynamic range of the pulse width is about three times wider than that of PW1, the gradation is remarkably improved. Therefore, for example, if high resolution is required, PW1 should be selected, and if high gradation is required, PW2 should be selected by an SCRSE from an external circuit.
L804 is given. That is, reference numeral 912 in FIG. 9A is a selector, which selects A input when SCRSEL 804 is "0", that is, PW1 is output from output terminal O when PW1 is "1", and the pulse width finally obtained. Only the laser lights up and dots are printed.

Although the LUT 901 is a table conversion ROM for gradation correction, K ₁ and K of 812 and 813 are assigned to addresses.
₂ , the table switching signal 814 and the video signal 815 are input, and corrected VIDEO DATA is obtained from the output. For example, SCRSEL80 to select PW1
When 4 is set to "0", all the outputs of the ternary counter 903 become "0", and the correction table for PW1 in 901 is selected. Further, K ₀ , K ₁ and K ₂ are switched according to the color signal to be output. For example, K ₀ , K ₁ and K ₂ = “0,
When 0, 0 "is yellow output, when" 0, 1, 0 "is magenta output, when" 1, 0, 0 "is cyan output," 1, 1,
When it is 0 ", black output is performed. That is, the gradation correction characteristics are switched for each color image to be printed. This compensates for the difference in gradation characteristics due to the difference in image reproduction characteristics depending on the color of the laser beam printer. Also K ₂ and K ₀ , K
_It is possible to perform a wider range of gradation correction by the combination of ₁ . For example, the gradation conversion characteristics of each color can be switched according to the type of input image. Next, when SCRSEL is set to "1" in order to select PW2, the ternary counter 603 counts the line synchronization signal to "1".
→ "2" → "3" → "1" → "2" → "3" → ... LU
It is output to the address 814 of T. 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. A curve A in FIG. 9A is a characteristic curve of input data vs. print density when PW1 is selected and the input data is changed from "FF" or "white" to "0" or "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 scanning direction) is changed by the above-mentioned triangular wave and at the same time the sub scanning is performed. As shown in the figure, the direction (image feeding direction) is provided with three gradation levels to further improve the 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, as described above, P
Even when W1 is selected, a high resolution is guaranteed to some extent, and when PW2 is selected, extremely excellent gradation is ensured. Further, regarding the above-mentioned pulse width, for example, PW
In the case of 2, the pulse width W is ideally 0 ≦ W ≦ W2, but due to the electrophotographic characteristics of the laser beam printer and the response characteristics of the laser drive circuit, dots are printed with a pulse width shorter than a certain width. No (no response) area diagram 28
Area where the density is saturated when 0 ≦ W ≦ wp FIG. 28w
There is q ≦ 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 FF _H (white) as shown in FIG. 28B,
The pulse width changes from wp to wq, further ensuring the linearity between the input data and the density.

The video signal converted into the pulse width as described above is supplied to the laser driver 711 via the line 224.
It is added to L to modulate the laser beam LB.

The signals K ₀ , K ₁ and K shown in FIG.
₂ , SCRSEL, and LON are output from a control circuit (not shown) in the printer controller 700 of FIG. 2 and are output based on serial communication with the reader unit 1 (described above). At the time of use, SCRSEL is controlled to "1" to reproduce a smoother gradation.

[Image Forming Operation] The laser beam LB modulated corresponding to the image data is horizontally scanned at a high speed by the polygon mirror 712 rotating at a high speed within the width of arrow AB in FIG. An image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 715 through the θ lens 13 and the mirror 714, and dot exposure corresponding to the image data is performed. 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 exposed in the sub scanning direction of the drum. Since the drum 715 is rotated at a constant speed,
Thereby, the planar images are successively exposed to form latent images. From the uniform charging by the charger 717 prior to this exposure → the above exposure → and the toner development by the developing sleeve 731, the toner development is formed. For example, by developing with the yellow toner of the developing sleeve 731Y corresponding 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.

Then, a yellow toner image is formed on the paper sheet 754, whose tip is supported by the gripper 751 and wound around the transfer drum 716, by the transfer charger 729 provided at the contact point between the photosensitive drum 715 and the transfer drum 716. Is transferred and formed. The same processing steps are repeated for M (magenta), C (cyan), and BK (black) images, and the toner images are superimposed on the paper sheet 754 to form a full-color image with four-color toner. It

Thereafter, the transfer paper 791 is separated from the transfer drum 716 by the movable separation claw 750 shown in FIG. Paper 79
The toner image on No. 1 is fused and fixed.

<Explanation of Operation Unit> FIG. 41 is an explanatory view of the operation unit of the present color copying apparatus. A key 401 is a reset key for returning to the standard mode, and a key 402 is an enter key for setting a registration mode described later. A key, a key 404 are ten keys for inputting a numerical value such as a set number, a key 403 is a clear / stop key for clearing a numeral or a stop during continuous copying, and a reference numeral 405 is a mode setting by a touch panel key or the printer 2 The state of is displayed. Key 407
Is a center movement key for designating center movement in a movement mode described later, key 408 is an original recognition key for automatically detecting the original size and original position at the time of copying, and key 406.
Is a projector key for designating a projector mode which will be described later, key 409 is a recall key for restoring the previous copy setting state, and key 410 is a memory key (for storing or recalling preprogrammed setting values of each mode, etc.). M1, M2, M3, M4) and a key 411 are registration keys for each memory.

<Digitizer> FIG. 32 shows the digitizer 1
6 is an external view of FIG. Keys 422, 423, 424, 42
Reference numerals 5, 426 and 427 are entry keys for setting each mode to be described later, and the coordinate detection plate 420 is a coordinate position detection plate for designating an arbitrary area on the document or setting a magnification, The point pen 421 is for designating the coordinates. Data of these keys and coordinate input information is received from the CPU 22 via the bus 505, and accordingly, these information is stored in the RAM 24 and RA.
It is stored in M25.

<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 scaling can be designated. For example, when the touch key a (reduction) is pressed, the size change and the scaling factor are displayed as shown on the screen PO10. Similarly, when the touch key b (enlargement) is pressed, the size and the magnification are displayed, and in the color copying apparatus, reduction 3 stages and enlargement 3 stages can be selected. Further, when returning to the normal size, the touch key h (normal size) is pressed to obtain a 100% normal size. Next, by pressing the display center touch key c, the upper cassette and the lower cassette can be selected. Further, when the touch key d is pressed, it is possible to set the 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. The touch key g is
In operating the color copying apparatus, explanations of each touch key, how to make a copy, etc. are explained. 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. Further, in the message display section in the lower part of the screen, the status of the color copying apparatus such as the screen PO20 and a message such as an operation error are displayed.
Further, the JAM and each toner replenishment message are further displayed on the entire screen of the printer unit 16 so that it is easy to determine which part contains the paper.

<Zoom Zoom Mode> Zoom zoom mode M
Reference numeral 100 denotes a mode in which the size of the original is changed and printing is performed. The mode 100 includes a manual zoom variable magnification mode M110 and an automatic zoom variable magnification mode M120. In the manual zoom magnification / reduction mode M110, the magnification in the X direction (sub-scanning direction) and the magnification in the Y direction (main scanning direction) can be set independently by 1% by an editor or a touch panel. The auto-zoom scaling mode M120 is a mode in which an appropriate scaling factor is automatically calculated and copied according to the original and the selected paper size. In addition, XY independent automatic scaling, XY same-rate automatic scaling, X-auto scaling, Four types of Y auto scaling can be specified. In the XY independent automatic scaling, the magnification in the X direction and the Y direction are independently set automatically so that the original size or the paper size selected for the designated area on the original is obtained. In the XY same-rate automatic scaling, both XY and the XY independent scaling are calculated and printed with the smaller magnification. 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 the liquid crystal panel screen. When the zoom key 422 of the digitizer 16 is pressed, the display changes to the screen P100 of FIG. If you want to set the manual zoom here,
X written on the coordinate detection plate 420 of the editor 16
And the intersection of the magnifications in the Y direction is designated by the point pen 421. At this time, the display is changed to the screen P110, and 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. When it is desired to make adjustments at the same XY rate, the left and right keys of the touch key d are used, and the display is moved up and down at the XY rate. Next, when it is desired to set the auto zoom, from the screen P100, use the digitizer 16 by the above-described method or press the touch key a to display the screen P1.
Advance the display to 10. Therefore, the above-mentioned four types of auto zoom, XY independent auto scaling, XY same-rate P auto scaling, X
To specify automatic scaling and Y automatic scaling, touch keys b and c, touch key d, and touch key b, respectively.
By pressing the touch key c, a desired auto zoom can be obtained.

<Movement Mode> The movement mode M200 is 4
It is composed of various types of movement modes, such as a center movement M210, a corner movement M220, and a designated movement M23.
0 and the binding margin is M240. Center move M21
0 is a mode in which the original size or a designated area on the original is moved so that it is printed exactly in the center of the selected paper. The corner movement 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 so as to move starting from the designated corner. The designated movement M230 is a mode for moving an original or an arbitrary area of the original to an arbitrary position on the selected sheet. The binding margin M240 is a mode for moving to the left and right of the selected paper feeding direction so as to create a so-called binding margin.

Next, an actual operation method in this color copying apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. First, when the move key 423 of the digitizer 16 is pressed, the display is the screen P20.
Change to 0. On the screen P200, the four types of movement modes described above are selected.

When center movement is specified, screen P2
Press the touch key a of 00 to finish. Corner movement,
When touch key b is pressed, the display changes to screen P230,
Therefore, specify one of the four corners. here,
Screen P230 and the actual movement direction with respect to the print paper
The correspondence with the designated direction is as in FIG. 35 (b) without changing the orientation of the paper of the selected cassette on the digitizer 16 and having the same image as the one placed as it is.
To make a designated move, touch key c on screen P200.
Press to go to screen P210, and specify the destination position by the digitizer 16. At this time, the display is changed to the screen P211, and the up and down keys 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 keys on the screen P220.

<Explanation of Area Designation Mode> In the area designation mode M300, one place or a plurality of regions on the original can be designated, and the trimming mode M310, the masking mode M320, and the image separation mode can be selected for each area. Any of the three modes can be set. The trimming mode M310 described here is to copy only the image inside the specified area, and the masking mode M320 is to copy the inside of the specified area with a white image. Image separation mode M3
30 is a color mode M331, a color conversion mode M3
Any of 32, paint mode M333, and color balance mode M334 can be selected. In the color mode M331, the specified area is filled with 4 full colors, 3 full colors Y, M, C, Bk, RED, GR.
An arbitrary color mode can be selected from among 9 types of EEN and BLUE. The color conversion mode M332 is a mode in which a predetermined color portion having a certain density range in the designated area is replaced with another arbitrary color and copied.

The paint mode M333 is a mode for making a copy uniformly painted over in the designated area with another arbitrary color. Color balance mode M33
A mode 4 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 concrete operation method in this embodiment of the area designation mode M300 will be described in order with reference to FIG.
First, when the area designation key 424 on the digitizer 16 is pressed, the liquid crystal display changes to the screen P300, and 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, one of trimming, masking, and image separation displayed on the screen P320 is selected for this designated area, and the key is pressed. At this time, if the designation is trimming or masking, press the touch key a on the screen P320,
Proceed to the next area designation. When the image separation is selected on the screen P320, the process proceeds to the screen P330, where color conversion, paint,
Select either color mode or color balance.
For example, to print an image in the designated area in four colors of Y, M, C, and Bk, press the touch key a (color mode) on the screen P330, and select from nine color modes on the screen P360. Press the touch key a and change the area to 4
The specification to print in full color is complete.

When the touch key b for designating 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 designated area is designated by the point. If the designated position is acceptable, the touch key a on the screen P341 is pressed to proceed to the screen P370. The screen P370 is a screen for designating a color after conversion, and designates one of four types of standard color, designated color, registered color, and white. Here, when selecting the color after conversion from the standard color,
Press the touch key a on the screen P370 to display 7 colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, black, red, green and blue displayed on the screen P390.
Any one of the colors is specified here. That is, the standard color is color information unique to the color copying apparatus, and in the case of the present embodiment, the print image is printed with the ratio shown in FIG. . However, there is of course a request to make the density of the designated color a little lighter or darker. Therefore, the density designation key in the center of the screen P390 can be pressed to perform color conversion at the desired density.

Next, when the touch key c (designated color) is selected on the screen P370, the process proceeds to the screen P380, and the point having the converted color information is pointed with the point pen by the same designating method as the color coordinates before conversion. Designate and proceed to screen P381. even here,
As described above, if you want to perform color conversion by changing only the density without changing the tint of the designated coordinates, you can press the density adjustment k key a in the center of the screen P381 to perform color conversion at the desired density. It will be possible.

Next, on the screen P370, when the standard color and the desired color are not present on the original, a color registration mode M7 to be described later is displayed.
Color conversion can be performed using the color information registered in 10. In this case, press the touch key c on the screen P370,
Of the colors registered on the screen P391, press the touch key of the color number you want to use. Again, the density of the registered color is
It is possible to adjust by changing only the density without changing the ratio of each color component. If the touch key c (white) is designated on the screen P370, the same effect as the masking mode M310 is obtained.

Next, when it is desired to specify the paint mode M333 of the image separation mode M330, the touch key c on the screen P330 is pressed, and the screen advances to P370. The subsequent color designation after painting is performed on the screen P37 of the color conversion mode M332.
The operation is exactly the same as the setting method after 0.

When it is desired to print only the designated area on the screen P330 with a desired color balance (color tone), the touch key d (color balance) is pressed. At this time, the display changes to a screen P350, and here, the density of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, which are toner components of the printer, are adjusted using the up / down touch keys. Here, screen P3
On the 50, a black bar graph shows the state where the density is designated, and a scale is displayed beside it to make it easy to see.

<Explanation of Color Create Mode> FIG. 41
In the color create mode M400, the color mode M410, the color conversion mode M420, and the paint mode M4.
It is possible to specify one or a plurality of five kinds of modes including 30, a sharpness mode M440, and a color balance mode M450.

Here, the area designating mode M300 differs from the color mode M331, the color conversion mode M332, the paint mode M333, and the color balance mode M334 in that the color create mode M400 is not for an area on the document. Other than that, the function works for the entire manuscript, and other functions are exactly the same. Therefore, the description of the above four 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 an edge on a so-called character image or producing a smoothing effect on a halftone image. Next, a 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 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 desired color mode is a monochrome color mode other than the three-color and four-color modes, the display further advances to the screen P411, and negative or positive can be selected. When the touch key c (sharpness) is pressed on the screen P400, the screen P430 is displayed so that the sharpness of the copied image can be adjusted. When the strong touch key i on the screen P430 is pressed, the amount of edge emphasis is increased as described above, and particularly fine lines such as character images are neatly copied. When the weak touch key h is pressed, the peripheral pixels are smoothed, the amount of so-called smoothing is increased, and settings can be made so that moire and the like at the time of halftone dot originals can be erased.

Further, 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 therefore the description thereof is omitted here.

<Explanation of inset compositing mode> In the inset compositing mode M6, for the originals such as E and F in FIG.
In this mode, the designated color image area is moved to the designated area of the monochrome image area (which may be the color image area) at the same size or with variable magnification and printed.

A method of setting the embedded combination mode will be described with reference to a picture on the liquid crystal panel and touch panel key operation. First, when a document is placed on the coordinate detection plate of the digitizer 16 and an inset composite key 427, which is an entry key in the inset composite mode, is pressed, the liquid crystal screen becomes the standard screen P0 in FIG.
The screen changes to the screen P600 of FIG. 39 from 00. Next, with respect to the color image area to be moved, two points on the diagonal line of the area are designated by the point pen 421. At that time, the screen P6 appears on the LCD screen.
As shown in FIG. 10, two dots which are similar to the actually designated position are displayed. When it is desired to change the designated area to another area at this time, 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. If good, the screen P6 is displayed.
Press the touch key c of 30. At this time, the LCD screen is screen P6.
Instead of 40, 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 FIGS. 42A and 42B, 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. Automatically controlled.

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

When the above setting operation is completed, the touch key j is pressed, and the screen returns to the standard screen P000 of FIG.
The setting operation of the embedded combination mode is completed.

<Enlarged Continuous Shooting Mode> Expanded Continuous Shooting Mode M50
0 indicates that if the original size or the specified area of the original is copied at the set magnification and the selected paper size is exceeded, two originals are automatically created according to the set magnification and the specified paper size. This is a mode in which the above-mentioned areas are divided and each part of the divided original is output on a plurality of sheets. Therefore, by combining these plural copies, it is possible to easily make a copy larger than the designated paper size.

For the actual setting operation, first, the digitizer 16
38 is pressed, and the screen P500 of FIG. 38 is pressed.
Setting is completed by pressing the end key of the touch key a. After that, it is only necessary to select a desired magnification and paper.

<Registration Mode> The registration mode M700 includes a color registration mode M710 and a zoom program mode M72.
0, manual feed size designation mode M730.

The color registration mode M710 is the color creation mode M400 and the area designation mode M300 described above.
When specifying the color conversion mode and the paint mode of, 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 document and the length of the copy paper size, the resulting magnification is displayed on the standard screen P000, and the copying is performed at that magnification thereafter. Is. In the manual copying size designation mode M730, in this color copying apparatus, not only upper and lower cassettes but also manual copying is possible.
When using in S (auto paper select) mode or the like, this is a mode in which the size of manual feed can be designated.

First, the * key 402 which is the operation unit of FIG.
When is pressed, the display changes to screen P700 in FIG. Next, when it is desired to perform color registration in the color registration mode M710, the touch key a on the screen P700 is pressed, the color is registered on the digitizer 16 or the original is placed on the screen P710, and the color portion is designated by the point pen 421.

At this time, the screen changes to the screen P711, and the touch key corresponding to the registration number to be set is pressed. Further, when it is desired to register another color, the touch key d on the screen P711 is pressed to return to the screen P710, and the setting is performed 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 of the screen P712 is pressed.

After the touch key f is pressed, it operates according to the process of the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S700, the halogen lamp 10 is turned on, and in step S701, the number of movement pulses of the stepping motor is calculated from the above-specified coordinates (sub-scanning direction), and the original scanning unit 11 is moved by issuing the specified movement command. In S702, one line of the sub-scanning position whose coordinates are designated by the line data fetching mode is fetched into the RAM 78 'of FIG. S70
In 3, the average value of 8 pixels before and after the main scanning position for which the coordinate is designated is calculated from the fetched 1-line data in the RAM 78 '.
It is calculated by the CPU 22 and stored in the RAM 24. S7
In 04, it is determined whether or not the designated number of registered coordinates have been read. When all the reading positions are completed, the halogen lamp 10 is turned off in S705, and the document scanning unit is set to the reference position H.S.
The operation is completed by returning to the P position.

Next, on the screen P700, the touch key a
Pressing (Zoom Program) changes to screen P720,
Here, the length of the document size and the length of the copy size are set with the up / down keys. The set numerical value is displayed on the screen P720, and at the same time, the% value of the copy size / original size is displayed. Moreover, the calculation result is
It is displayed at the magnification display position on the standard screen P000, and the magnification is set during copying.

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

The numerical values and information set by the coordinate input of the touch panel or digitizer in each mode are C
Under the control of the PU 22, the data is stored in pre-arranged areas of the RAM 24 and the RAM 25, and is called and controlled as a parameter in the subsequent copy sequence.

FIG. 51 shows a film projector (see FIG.
The following shows the operation procedure of the operation unit when the (211) is installed. After the film projector 211 is connected, FIG. 31-
406, when the projector mode selection key is turned on,
The display on the liquid crystal touch panel changes to P800. On this screen, select whether the film is negative or positive. For example, if a negative film is selected here, the screen changes to P810, that is, a screen for selecting the ASA sensitivity of the film. Here, for example, the film sensitivity ASA100 is selected. this house,
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, shading correction, and then setting the negative film to be printed on the holder 215,
After the AE operation for determining the exposure voltage is performed by turning on the copy button (FIG. 31-400), image formation is repeated in the order of yellow, magenta, cyan, and Bk (black) as shown in FIG.

FIG. 46 is a flow chart of the sequence control of this color copying apparatus. A description will be given below according to the flowchart. By pressing the copy key, the halogen lamp is turned on in S100, and the above-described operation of the black correction mode in S101 and the white correction mode in S102 are performed. Next, if the designated color conversion is set in the color conversion mode or the paint mode, the color registration in S104,
The designated color reading process is performed, and the color-separated density data of designated coordinates are stored in predetermined areas according to the registration mode and designated color detection. This operation is as shown in FIG. In S105, it is determined whether or not the document recognition mode is set. If it is set, the scanning unit 16 in S106-1 is scanned for 435 mm, which is the maximum document detection length, and the document recognition 200 described above is used to scan the document via the CPU bus. The position and size of the. If it is not set, the paper size selected in S106-2 is recognized as the document size, and these pieces of information are stored in the RAM 24. S
At 107, it is determined whether or not the movement mode is set, and when it is set, the document scanning unit 16 is moved to the document side in advance by the movement amount.

Next, in S109, a bit map for outputting a gate signal for each function generated from the RAMA 136 or RAMB 137 is created based on the information set in each mode.

FIG. 49 is set in each of the above-mentioned modes.
RAM information stored in RAM 24, RAM RAM set in RAM 25
FIG. AREA MODE is each designated area
A. Internal operations, such as painting and trimming modes
The identification information of is stored. AREA XY is the original document
Contains information on the size and size of each area, AREA A
LPT is the information after color conversion, whether standard color or designated color is registered color
Information is stored. AREA ALPT XY is
AREA Color coordinate information when the content of ALPT is the specified color
It is a news area and AREA DENS is the density adjustment after conversion
This is an adjustment data area. AREA PT XY is a color change
This is an information area of the color coordinates before conversion in the conversion mode, which is AR
EA CLMD is the color mode information in the original or specified area.
The information is stored.

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 bitmap shown in FIG. 50 is created based on the above set information. First, AREA storing the size information of each area in FIG. From XY, from the coordinate data in the sub-scanning direction, from the smallest value to X, The ADD area is sorted, and the main scanning direction is similarly sorted.

Next, the BIT of the start and end points of each area in the main scanning direction "1" is set at the MAP position, and the process is similarly performed up to the end coordinate of the sub-scan. The bit position which gives "1" at this time corresponds to each gate signal generated from the RAMA 136 or RAMB 137, and the bit position is determined by the mode in the area. For example, the area 1 which is the original area is T
The area 5 corresponding to the MAREA 660 and the color balance designation area corresponds to the GAREA 626. Hereinafter, similarly, the bitmap for the area is BIT of FIG. Create in the MAP area. Then S109 In step 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 a video is sent to the area 2 during the cyan development, the area 2 is printed with the image of only the cyan component and the other images of the yellow and magenta components are not printed. Therefore, when the designated area is selected in the single color mode, the MAREA 5 is set by the masking coefficient register of FIG. 16 so that the image becomes an ND image image.
Set the next coefficient in the register selected when 64 becomes active.

[0116]

[Outside 15]

Next, the data (used in the 4-color or 3-color mode) stored in the RAM 23 of FIG. 2 is set in the masking coefficient register selected by the MAREA 564 at "0". Next, area 2 which is the paint mode
On the other hand, the respective gate signals CHAREA0, 1, 2, corresponding to the bits of the BIIMAP area described above.
Data is set in each register of FIG. 18 selected by 3. First, in order to convert all input video, FF is added to yu159, 00 is added to yl160, and mu161.
To FF, ml162 to 00, Cu163 to FF, Cl1
64 is set to 00, and the color information after conversion stored in FIG. 49 is set to AREA_ALPT or REGI_COLO.
Load from R and AREA_DEN for each color data
Multiply the coefficient of the density adjustment data of S to obtain y'16
The density data after conversion is set in 6, m ′ 167 and c ′ 168. For the color conversion of the area 4, yu15 described above is used.
.., cl164 are set to the respective density data before conversion in FIG. 49 to which a certain offset value is added, and the data after conversion are similarly set. In the color balance of area 5, the gate signal GAR
EA 626 is selected by "1" In the Y, M, C, Bk areas of RAM 177, the above-mentioned data value is set from the color balance value AREA_BLAN when the area is designated in FIG. 49, and GAREA 626 is selected by "0". Data is set in the designated area by BLANCE, which is the color balance during color creation.

In step S109, a start command for the printer is output via the SRCOM 516. Figure 4 in S110
7 shows the timing chart. Detect ITOP, S
111 output video signals C0, C of Y, M, C, Bk
Switching between C1 and C2 and turning on the halogen lamp in S112. In S113, it is determined whether or not each video scan is finished. When finished, the halogen lamp is turned off in S114, and S114 is performed.
Then, in S115, a copy end check is performed. If the copy is completed, a stop command is output to the printer in S116, and the copy ends.

FIG. 48 is a flowchart of the interrupt processing of the signal HINT517 output from the timer 28. In S200-1, it is checked whether or not the stepping motor start timer is completed. If completed, the stepping motor is started and S200 is started. Then, in FIG.
, Shown in X 1-bit BIT indicated by ADD The MAP data is set in the RAM 136 or the RAM 137. S20
In 1, the address of the data to be set at the next interrupt is +1
To do. In S202, the switching signals C ₃ 595, C ₄ 596, and C ₅ 593 of the RAM 136 and RAM 137 are output, and S
At 203, the time until the next sub-scanning switching is set in the timer 28, and then X BIT indicated by ADD The contents of MAM are sequentially set in the RAM 136 or RAM 137, and the gate signal is switched.

That is, the processing contents in the X direction are switched every time the carriage moves in the sub-scanning direction and an interrupt occurs.
Color processing such as various color conversions can be executed 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, the 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. is there. Also, an example has been described in which the reading unit and the image forming unit are arranged close to each other as a copying apparatus.
Of course, the present invention can also be applied to a format in which image information is transmitted by a communication line separated from each other.

[0123]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an appropriate color conversion procedure is guided according to the color conversion mode, so that even a user who is not accustomed to use can set a good operating environment. .

According to the second aspect of the invention, the color processing method can be interactively set by the instruction on the display, so that a convenient operating environment can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a digital color copying machine of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of a reader unit controller.

3 is a diagram showing a protocol of a CPU 22 of the motor driver 15 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a timing diagram of control signals between a reader unit and a printer unit, a video signal transmission circuit diagram, and a timing diagram of each signal on a signal line SRCOM.

5 is a detailed view of the video processing unit of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a layout diagram of a color CCD sensor and a timing diagram of each part of the sensor.

FIG. 7 is a CCD drive signal generation circuit (a diagram showing an internal circuit of the system control pulse generator 57) and a signal timing chart of each part.

8 is a detailed diagram of the analog color signal processing circuit 44 of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a staggered sensor.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a black level correction circuit.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a white level correction circuit.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a line data capture mode.

FIG. 13 is a logarithmic conversion circuit and a logarithmic conversion characteristic diagram.

FIG. 14 is a spectral characteristic diagram of a reading sensor.

FIG. 15 is a spectral characteristic diagram of developing color toner.

FIG. 16 is a masking inking UCR circuit diagram.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of area signal generation.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram of a color conversion unit.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of a γ conversion circuit using an LUT.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram of a scaling process.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of edge tension and smoothing processing.

FIG. 22 is a control circuit of the operation panel unit.

FIG. 23 is a configuration diagram of a film projector.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a relationship between a control input of a film exposure lamp and a lighting voltage.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart when a film projector is used.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a PWM circuit and a control block.

FIG. 27 is a gradation correction characteristic diagram.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a relationship between a triangular wave and a laser lighting time.

FIG. 29 is a control flowchart when the film projector is used.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a laser print 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 diagram of a liquid crystal standard table screen.

FIG. 34 is an operation explanatory diagram of a zoom mode.

FIG. 35 is an operation explanatory diagram of a movement mode and a corner movement.

FIG. 36 is an operation explanatory diagram of an area designation mode.

FIG. 37 is an operation explanatory diagram of color create mode.

FIG. 38 is an operation explanatory diagram of an enlarged continuous shooting mode.

FIG. 39 is an explanatory diagram of an operation in a fitting combination mode.

FIG. 40 is an operation explanatory diagram of a registration mode.

FIG. 41 is a functional diagram of the color copying apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 42 is an explanatory diagram of a fitting combination mode.

FIG. 43 is a diagram showing a print image when a corner is moved.

FIG. 44 is a control flowchart of the color registration mode.

FIG. 45 is a diagram showing color components of standard colors.

FIG. 46 is a control flowchart of the overall system.

FIG. 47 is a time chart diagram of the entire system.

FIG. 48 is an interrupt control flowchart.

FIG. 49 is a diagram showing a memory map of RAM.

FIG. 50 is an explanatory diagram of a bitmap.

FIG. 51 is an operation explanatory diagram of the projector.

52 is a signal timing chart of each part of FIG. 8.

FIG. 53 is a diagram showing offset adjustment and gain adjustment.

FIG. 54 is a diagram showing a memory configuration for misalignment correction of the staggered sensor.

FIG. 55 is a timing chart for controlling misalignment correction of the staggered sensor.

FIG. 56 is a diagram showing variations when a black level is detected by a sensor.

FIG. 57 is a diagram showing variations when a white level is detected by a sensor.

FIG. 58 is a flowchart of white level correction for each CCD.

FIG. 59 is a diagram showing a truth table showing the relationship between selection signals C ₀ , C ₁ , C ₂ and color signals.

FIG. 60 is a block diagram of area designation.

FIG. 61 is a diagram showing region designation and control signals.

FIG. 62 is a correspondence diagram of each bit and signal name.

FIG. 63 is a diagram showing an example of a truth table of a selector 175 and an image subjected to color conversion.

FIG. 64 is a diagram showing a region before color conversion and a diagram showing color conversion in the region.

FIG. 65 is a schematic diagram when the density correction is performed for each area separately.

FIG. 66 is a diagram showing gamma for color balance and shade control.

FIG. 67 is a diagram showing a signal flow and timing when performing a scaling process.

FIG. 68 is a diagram showing a scaling and movement process.

FIG. 69 is a diagram showing sharpness and edge tension.

FIG. 70 is a diagram showing extraction of regions.

71 is a histogram of the R signal for determining the exposure and image forming timing and the lamp light amount by the film projector. FIG.

FIG. 72 is a diagram showing a pulse of a PWM circuit.

FIG. 73 is a control flowchart when the film projector is used.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A color conversion method, wherein a color conversion mode is set, and characters are displayed in the set color conversion mode to guide a color conversion procedure. 2. A color processing setting mode for setting color processing is selected by an instruction on the display, and a color processing method is interactively set by the instruction on the display based on the selection. An image processing method characterized by performing image processing based on a color processing method.