JPH08297390A - Color image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make a developing device adequately operated corresponding to a specified monochrome, to reduce wear of the developing device, and to increase the image forming speed, by comparing the specified monochrome with plural development colors, and controlling operation of the developing device according to the result. CONSTITUTION: A CPU 211 is allowed to control respective devices connected to a system bus 210 based on a control program stored in a ROM 213, with use of a RAM 212 as an operation area. A control part 214 is capable of setting reading conditions (such as density and variable power rate) to an image read out by the image sensor 200 possible to be combined, and informing an operator by displaying messages on a state of a machine and a setting. A communication control part 215 performs the serial communication between the control part 214 and a printer 216 as the image output part. By the above-mentioned constitution, in the monochrome mode specified by the user, by variably setting for every property composing the optional monochrome, only the required developing device is made so as to operate corresponding to the specified color.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color image processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a color original is copied in a conventional color copying machine, full-color formation is performed by using all developing devices of the machine.

On the other hand, a color copying machine is provided with a function called ACS (auto color select), and when an original is judged to be a monochrome original, an image is formed in a single black color using only a black developing device. I do.

[0004]

There is a monochromatic color mode as a mode for forming an image using only an arbitrary monochromatic color designated by a user when an image is formed on a color original.

In the single color mode, although there is a developing color that is not used depending on the designated color, the developing device that is not used can be processed without passing through the process using the developing device. There are problems such as shortened life and extra copy time.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has a color image processing apparatus having a plurality of developing devices and performing image formation using a plurality of developing colors corresponding to the developing devices. And a designation means for designating an arbitrary monochromatic color by variably setting a value for each component constituting the monochromatic color,
And a control unit that deactivates at least one of the developing units according to a result of comparing the single color designated by the designation unit with the plurality of development colors.

[0008]

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a document image processing apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention.

Reference numeral 200 denotes an image sensor composed of a CCD or the like, which converts the read image information into an electric signal and
The analog image signal is output to the / D conversion unit 201. A /
The D conversion unit 201 binarizes the analog signal with a predetermined threshold value and outputs a digital image signal to the color masking unit 202. Reference numeral 203 denotes a lower color removing unit that removes a gray component in the three-color signal and replaces it with a black signal. A gradation correction unit 204 executes gradation processing (γ, brightness, contrast, density conversion, etc.). The image modulator 205 is subjected to various kinds of image processing based on the area signal generated by the area generation circuit 209. The scaling unit 206 performs scaling processing. Reference numeral 207 is an image interface.

Reference numeral 210 denotes a system bus, and the CPU 211 controls each of the above-mentioned devices connected thereto by using the RAM 212 as a work area based on a control program stored in the ROM 213.

Reference numeral 214 denotes an operation unit, which is the image sensor 200.
Image reading conditions (density, magnification,
Etc.) and a message regarding the state and setting of the machine can be displayed and transmitted to the operator. A communication control unit 215 performs serial communication with the operation unit 214 and the printer 216 that is an image output unit.

FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagram of the operation unit 214.

A liquid crystal display panel 300 displays the contents of the VRAM 302 by the liquid crystal controller 301. Reference numeral 307 denotes a CPU, which controls the operation unit while using the RAM 309 as a work area based on a program stored in the ROM 308. A serial communication controller 310 communicates various settings set on the operation unit to the document image processing apparatus main body and performs serial communication with the reader unit in order to know the state of the document image processing apparatus main body. A touch key 303 is attached to the surface of the liquid crystal display panel 300. Further, 304 is a collective representation of hard keys on the operation unit. Reference numeral 305 denotes an I / O port for controlling these key inputs, and controls the decoder 306 so as to output one of the KeyScan0 to 5 signals at regular time intervals. The signal from each key is
I / O port 30 as KeyReturn0 to 6 signals
Input of 5. When a key is pressed, a part of the circuit opens,
KeyScan number and KeyReturn at that time
It is possible to determine which key is pressed from the state of.

FIG. 4 is a setting screen for a single color mode, which is one of the document processing modes. On this screen, the operator can select from among the colors yellow → mustard → ... → green → lime 401 prepared in advance as a color palette, and further adjust the color component of the color for each color component using the key input unit 402. You can

FIG. 1 shows an algorithm for determining the developing color (developing device) to be used from the color mode thus set.

First, it is judged whether the 4/3 color mode or the single color mode is set (100). When the single color is set, the color component (the basic color of the image output section ( In this case, check the component ratio for each MCYK)
The use / non-use of the developing device is determined for each color (102 to 105). At this time, the determination not to use the developer of the basic color is based on whether the component ratio is 0 or not, and whether it is equal to or less than the actual value of the image output unit (of course, it may be different for each color). Become. For example, Y = 1% C = 10
In the case of 0% M = 81% K = 50%, the image forming color in the monochromatic color mode is a bluish color, or in this case, even if Y = 1%, Y is formed in the formed image. It is not known whether it is included or not, and there is almost no effect whether Y is used or not. In such a case, the developing color of Y is not used because it is less than the actual value.

Even when the single color mode is not set as usual, ACS (auto color select) is used.
Even when it is determined that the original image is black in color by such functions as described above, only black is used as the developing color to be used (101).

The developing color used thus determined is
It is sent to the printer unit through the communication control unit 215.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, only the developing devices necessary for the color designated in the single color mode designated by the user are operated, so that the consumption of the developing device can be suppressed and the copy speed can be reduced. Is improved.

(Other Embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The basic component of the color designation by the operating unit is
This is an example when the color is different from the basic color of the image output unit. That is, FIG.
Then, the color component adjustment keys are represented by Y, M, C, and K like 402, but the basic components for color designation are:
In addition to the MCYK system used in many output means,
There are RGB type and HSL type. When the basic colors designated by the operation unit are different from the basic colors of the image output unit such as these, first, these color components are converted into the basic colors of the image output unit by known RGB → MCYK, HSL → MCYK conversion. The development color to be used after conversion using the formula is determined in the same manner as in Example 1. The algorithm is then shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 exemplifies the conversion from HLS to YMCK, but the present invention is not limited to this. In other words, the basic component of the color designation by the operation unit may be converted into the basic color of the image output unit.

[0022]

According to the present invention, a plurality of developing devices are provided and an image is formed by using a plurality of developing colors corresponding to the developing devices. And a control unit that deactivates at least one of the developing devices according to a result of comparing the single color designated by the designating unit with the plurality of developing colors by designating the value variably. Therefore, the developing device operates properly according to the designated monochromatic color, which reduces the consumption of the developing device and improves the speed of image formation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an algorithm for determining a developing color to be used in a document processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a document processing apparatus that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an operation unit of a document processing apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an example of a color setting screen on the operation unit of the document processing apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an algorithm for determining a developing color used in the second embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A color image processing apparatus having a plurality of developing devices and performing image formation by using a plurality of developing colors corresponding to the developing devices, wherein an arbitrary single color is provided for each component constituting the single color. And a control unit for deactivating at least one of the developing devices according to the result of comparing the single color designated by the designating unit with the plurality of developing colors. A color image processing device characterized by the above. 2. The color image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of developing devices include a yellow developing device, a cyan developing device, and a magenta developing device. 3. The color according to claim 1, wherein the control means deactivates a developing device for the component when the single color does not include a component of any one of the plurality of developing colors. Image processing device. 4. The control unit deactivates a developing device corresponding to a developing color whose content level is below a predetermined level, even if the monochromatic color contains a component of the developing color.
The described color image processing device. 5. A color image processing apparatus, wherein the components constituting the single color are a yellow component, a magenta component, a cyan component and a black component. 6. A color image processing apparatus, wherein the components constituting the single color are a red component, a green component and a blue component. 7. A color image processing apparatus, wherein the components constituting the single color are hue, lightness, and saturation components. 8. The comparison between a single color designated by the designation means and the plurality of development colors is performed for each color component obtained by color-separating the single color into color components of the development color. The described color image processing device.