JPH0832794A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an image forming device which moves an image by calculating an effective image area even when a specified image area is a right-angled polygon or hatched polygon. CONSTITUTION:This image forming device is equipped with an image reader such as a scanner, an image processing device which optionally processes a read image, and an area specifying device (editor) on which an operator can specify an optional area. When optional image movement is performed as to a polygonal area specified by the editor, the image movement of the smallest rectangle including the specified area is performed and when the optional image movement is performed for plural areas specified by the editor, the image movement of the smallest rectangle including all the specified areas is performed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to image movement control of a copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In conventional image movement control, a centering for moving an area image to the center of a sheet or a sheet of a sheet for a rectangular area input by an operation unit or an area designating device (hereinafter referred to as an editor). There is a corner ring that moves to each corner. For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-88567, a moving area is designated by an editor arranged on the original pressure plate, and how much the designated area is moved from a reference of output paper is calculated, and the moving amount is calculated. By this, the paper feed timing (sub-scanning direction) and the image data output timing for one line (main scanning direction) relative to the start of the optical system search are relatively changed to realize the image movement of the designated area.

However, when the moving area is a simple figure such as a rectangle, the moving amount of the reference point of the area designated as the origin (original reference) can be calculated by simple calculation. If the area is a right-angled polygon or a polygon with diagonal lines, or if multiple areas are specified, the effective range of the target image cannot be calculated by simple calculation, and the amount of movement cannot be calculated. There was a problem that could not be done.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of moving an image by calculating an effective image area even when a designated image area is a right-angled polygon or a polygon with oblique lines. And The second object of the present invention is to
An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of calculating an effective amount increase area and moving an image even when a plurality of areas are designated.

[0005]

In order to achieve such an object, the first means of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image reading apparatus such as a scanner and an image processing apparatus for arbitrarily processing the read image. In an image forming apparatus equipped with an area designating device (editor) that allows the operator to designate an arbitrary processing area, the designated area is specified when the arbitrary image is moved with respect to the polygonal area designated by the editor. The feature is that the image is moved with respect to a rectangle including the minimum. The second means of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is
In an image forming apparatus including an image reading device such as a scanner, an image processing device that arbitrarily processes an image with respect to a read image, and an editor that allows an operator to specify an arbitrary processing region, a plurality of images designated by the editor are specified. The feature is that when an arbitrary image movement is performed on an area, the image movement is performed on a rectangle that includes all designated areas and becomes the minimum.

In the first means described above, even if the designated image area is a right-angled polygon or a polygon with diagonal lines,
The effective image area can be calculated and the image can be moved. In the second means, even when a plurality of areas are designated, the effective image area is similarly calculated and the image can be moved easily. .

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of the entire digital copying machine, and FIG. 2 is a plan view and a side view of a writing section in the digital copying machine.
A schematic configuration of the digital copying machine will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, the digital copying machine is composed of a copying machine body (I), an automatic document feeder [ADF] (II), a sorter (III), and a double-sided reversing unit (IV). The copying machine main body (I) includes a scanner unit, a writing unit, a photoconductor unit, a developing unit, a paper feeding unit, and the like. The scanner unit includes a reflecting mirror 1, a light source 3, and a first
A first scanner provided with a mirror 2 and moving at a constant speed, and a second mirror 4 and a third mirror 5 provided, and moving following the first scanner at a speed half that of the first scanner. And a second scanner to do so. An original (not shown) on the contact glass 9 is optically scanned by the first scanner and the second scanner, and the reflected image is guided to the lens 7 via the color filter 6 and is then placed on the one-dimensional solid-state image sensor 8. Form an image.

Fluorescent lamps and halogen lamps are used as the light source 3. Of these, fluorescent lamps are often used because of their stable wavelength and long life. In this embodiment, a reflecting mirror is attached to one light source 3 and the solid-state image pickup device 8 has a constant sampling clock, so that the fluorescent lamp will adversely affect the image unless it is turned on at a higher frequency. It will be. A CCD is generally used as the solid-state image sensor 8, and since the image signal read by the solid-state image sensor 8 is an analog value, analog / digital (A / D) conversion is performed and the image processing substrate 10 is used. Various image processing, for example,
Binarization, multi-valued processing, gradation processing, scaling processing, editing processing, etc. are performed and converted into a digital signal as a set of spots. In order to obtain color image information, in the present embodiment, a color filter 6 that transmits only necessary color information is placed in and out of the optical path guided from the original to the solid-state image sensor 8. Therefore, the color filter 6 is moved in and out in accordance with the scanning of the original, and the multiple transfer, double-sided copy, and other functions are activated each time, and a wide variety of copies can be created. Further, a color original may be read using a 3-line CCD or the like in order to obtain three pieces of RGB information at the same time.

Next, the writing section will be described. The image information after the image processing is in the form of a set of light spots by raster scanning of laser light in the optical writing unit in the photoconductor drum 40.
Written on. 2A and 2B are a plan view and a side view showing a writing unit, and FIG. 3 is a layout example of a writing unit in which laser light emitted from a semiconductor laser 20 is parallel to a collimating lens 21. The light flux is converted into a uniform light flux and is shaped by the aperture 32 into a constant light flux. The formed laser light enters the polygon mirror 24 in a form compressed by the first cylinder lens 22 in the sub-scanning direction. The polygon mirror 24 has an accurate polygonal shape, and is rotated in a certain direction at a constant speed by a polygon motor 25. This rotation speed is the rotation speed of the photosensitive drum 40, the writing density, and the polygon mirror 2.
It is determined by the number of faces.

The reflected laser light incident on the polygon mirror 24 is deflected by the rotation of the polygon mirror 24, and the deflected laser light is reflected by the fθ lenses 26a and 2a.
Incident on 6b. The fθ lenses 26a and 26b are
Each scanning light having a constant speed is converted so as to scan the photosensitive drum 40 at a constant speed, and an image is formed on the photosensitive drum 40 so that the light spot becomes a minimum light spot. .
The laser light transmitted through the fθ lenses 26a and 26b is input to the synchronization detection light input unit 3 by the synchronization detection mirror 29 outside the image area.
It is guided to 0 and further propagated to the sensor section by the optical fiber to perform the synchronous detection which serves as a reference for cueing in the main scanning direction,
Output a sync signal. Image data for one line is output after a lapse of a fixed time after the synchronization signal is output, and one image is formed by repeating this operation.

Next, the photoconductor portion will be described. A photosensitive layer is formed on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 40, and organic photoconductors (OPC), α-Si, Se-Te, etc. are known as photoconductor layers having sensitivity to a semiconductor laser (wavelength 780 nm). In this embodiment, an organic photoconductor (OPC) is used.
The description is given by using an example. Generally, in the case of laser writing, there are two types of processes: a negative / positive (N / P) process of shining light on the image part and a positive / positive (P / P) process of shining light on the background part. N / P process is adopted. The charging charge 41 is of a scorotron type having a grid on the photoconductor side, uniformly (-) charges the surface of the photoconductor drum 40, and radiates a laser beam to the image forming portion to reduce the potential of the portion. Then, the background portion of the surface of the photosensitive drum 40 is -75.
An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 40 when the potential of 0 V to −800 V and the image portion is about −500 V.
This is applied to the developing roller by the developing units 42a and 42b at -500.
A bias voltage of V to -600 V is applied, and the toner charged in (-) is attached to visualize the electrostatic latent image.

Next, the developing section will be described. The apparatus of the present embodiment includes two developing devices, a main developing device 42a and a sub developing device 42b. In the case of solid black, the sub-developing device 42b
In this embodiment having two developing devices, the toner replenishing device 43b is detached and folded, and black toner is put in the toner replenishing device 43a paired with the main developing device 42a and paired with the sub developing device 42b. By inserting the color toner into the toner replenishing device 43b, the development of one color is selectively performed by changing the main pole position of the developing device of the other color. By using this development and reading color information by switching the color filter 6 of the scanner, and combining multiple functions of the paper transport system, double-sided copying function, etc., multifunctional color copying and color editing are possible. For development of three or more colors, a method of arranging three or more developing devices around the photosensitive drum 40,
This can be achieved by a revolver system or the like in which one or more developing devices are rotated and switched. Developing devices 42a, 42b
The image visualized in (4) is transferred to the surface of the paper which is synchronized and sent to the photoconductor drum 40 by being charged with (+) by the transfer charger 44 from the back surface of the paper. The transferred paper is subjected to AC charge removal by a separation charger 45 which is held integrally with the transfer charger 44, and separated from the photosensitive drum 40.

On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 40 is not transferred to paper.
The toner remaining on the photoconductor drum 40 is scraped off from the photoconductor drum 40 by the cleaning blade 47 and collected in the attached tank 48, and the potential pattern remaining on the photoconductor drum 40 is erased by irradiating light from the charge eliminating lamp 49. To be done.
A photo sensor 50 is provided immediately after the development, and the photo sensor 50 includes a pair of a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and detects the reflection density of the surface of the photosensitive drum 40. This is because the optical writing unit writes a constant pattern (for example, a pattern of black or halftone dots) at a position corresponding to the photosensor reading position, and the reflectance of the pattern unit after developing this and the photosensitive drum 40 other than the pattern unit It is also possible to judge the image density from the ratio of the reflectances, to output the toner replenishment signal when the image density is low, and to detect the toner residual amount shortage by utilizing the fact that the density does not increase after replenishment.

Next, the paper feeding section will be described. In this embodiment, a plurality of cassettes 60a, 60b, 60c are provided, and the paper once transferred can be passed through the re-feeding loop 72 to perform double-sided copying or re-feeding. A plurality of cassettes 60a,
When one of the cassettes 60b and 60c is selected and then the start button is pressed, the paper feed rollers 61 (61a, 61a) near the selected cassette 60 are selected.
b, 61c) rotates, and the leading edge of the paper is moved to the registration roller 62.
You will be fed until you hit. Although the registration roller 62 is stopped at this time, the registration roller 62 starts rotating at the timing of the image position formed on the photoconductor drum 40, and feeds the paper to the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 40. After that, the toner image is transferred onto the paper at the transfer portion, and is suctioned and conveyed at the separation / conveyance portion 63, and the transferred toner image is transferred onto the paper surface by the fixing roller composed of a pair of the heat roller 64 and the pressure roller 65. Settles in.

The paper transferred in this way is guided to the sheet discharge port on the sorter (III) side by the switching claw 67 during normal copying, and is changed in direction by the switching claws 68 and 69 during multiple copying. , Is passed through the lower sheet re-feeding loop 72 without being discharged to the sorter (III) side, and is again guided to the registration roller 62. In the case of double-sided copying, there are two cases, one is only using the copying machine body (I) and the other is using the double-sided reversing unit (IV). Here, the former case will be described. The paper guided downward by the switching claw 67 is further guided downward by the switching claw 68, and is guided by the next switching claw 69 to the tray 70 further below the re-feeding loop 72. Then, it is fed again in the opposite direction by reversing the roller 71, guided to the sheet re-feeding loop 72 by switching the switching claw 69, and fed to the registration roller 62.

Next, the automatic document feeder (ADF) will be described. This ADF automatically guides documents one by one onto the contact glass 9 and automatically discharges them after copying. The originals placed on the original feeding table 100 are aligned in the widthwise direction by the side guides 101. The placed originals are separated and fed one by one by a paper feed roller 104, conveyed to a predetermined position on the contact glass 9 by the rotation of the conveyor belt 102, and positioned. When the copying of the predetermined number of sheets is completed, the original is again fed to the conveyor belt 10.
The paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 103 by the rotation of 2. The size of the document can be detected by counting the position of the side guide 101 and the document feed time. Subsequently, the sorter (III) and the double-sided reversing unit (IV) will be described. The sorter is a device that selectively feeds the copy paper discharged from the copying machine body (I), for example, in page order, page by page, or to preset bins 111a to 111x. Copy paper sent by a plurality of rollers rotated by a motor 110 is stored in each bin 111.
Selected bottle 1 by switching the nail near the entrance of
You are led to 11. The copying machine main body (I) can only perform double-sided copying for each sheet, but by attaching this double-sided reversing unit (IV), it is possible to perform double-sided copying collectively. When making a double-sided copy for a plurality of sheets collectively, the paper guided downward by the paper discharge roller 66 is sent to the double-sided reversing unit (IV) by the next switching claw 67. The paper that has entered the double-sided reversing unit (IV) is discharged to the tray 123 by the paper discharge roller 120.
The copy sheets are stacked on top of each other, and in this case, the length and width of the copy paper are aligned by the feed roller 121 and the side alignment guide 122. Tray 1
The copy sheets stacked on the sheet 23 are re-fed by the re-feed rollers 124 when the back side is copied. At this time, the refeed loop 72 is directly guided by the switching claw 69. In FIG. 2, 27 is a mirror, 28 is a dustproof glass, 31 is a lens holding unit, 46 is a separating claw, and 80 is a main motor.

Next, the electrical equipment control section will be described with reference to FIG. 4 which is a conceptual diagram and FIG. 5 which is an overall block diagram. The control unit of the copying machine has two CPUs, the CPU 200 is a sequence-related control, and the CPU 20
Reference numeral 1 controls each operation.
The CPU 200 and the CPU 201 are connected by a serial interface (RS232C). The sequence control sets and outputs conditions related to the paper transport timing and image formation, and includes a paper size sensor, a paper transport sensor 202 such as paper discharge detection and registration detection, a duplex unit, a high voltage power supply unit, a relay, a solenoid, and a motor. A driver 203, a sorter unit 204, a laser unit / scanner unit 205, etc. are connected.

In the sensor relation 202, a paper size sensor for detecting the size and direction of the paper loaded in the paper feeding cassette and outputting an electric signal according to the detection result, a sensor for paper conveyance such as registration detection and paper discharge detection, and an oil end Inputs from sensors that detect the presence or absence of supplies such as toner and toner end, and sensors that detect machine abnormalities such as door open and fuse blown. Of the driver 203, in the duplex unit, a motor for aligning the paper width, a paper feed clutch, a solenoid for changing the transport path, a paper presence / absence detection sensor, a side fence home position sensor for aligning the paper width, a paper There are sensors related to the conveyance of the. The high-voltage power supply unit applies predetermined high-voltage power to the outputs of the charging charger, the transfer charger, the separation charger, and the developing bias electrode only by the duty obtained by the PWM control. In the PWM control, the feedback value of each high-voltage power output is converted into a digital value by A / D conversion, and is controlled to be equal to the target value.

Other drivers 203 include a paper feed clutch, a registration clutch, a counter, a motor, a toner replenishing solenoid, a power relay, and a fixing heater.

The sorter unit 204 and the CPU 200 are connected by a serial interface, and the paper is conveyed at a predetermined timing by a signal from the sequence and discharged to each bin. Further, a fixing temperature, a photo sensor input, a laser diode monitor input, a laser diode reference voltage, a feedback value of an output value from various high-voltage power supplies, and the like are input to the analog input 206 of the CPU 200, and are input from a thermistor in the fixing unit. By inputting
Turn on / off the heater so that the temperature of the fixing unit becomes constant.
Control or phase control is performed. In the photo sensor input, a photo pattern formed at a predetermined timing is input by a photo transistor, and the toner replenishment clutch is ON / OFF controlled by detecting the density of the pattern to control the toner density and the toner end. Is also detected. As a mechanism for adjusting the power of the laser diode to be constant, an A / D converter and a CPU2
00 analog inputs 206 are used. This is controlled so that the monitor voltage when the laser diode is turned on matches a preset reference voltage (this voltage is set so that the laser diode becomes 3 mW in this embodiment).

Next, operation-related control will be described. The main CPU 201 has a plurality of serial ports 2
07 and the calendar IC 208 are controlled, and in addition to the sequence control CPU 200 for a plurality of serial ports, an uninterruptible power supply 209, an operation unit 210, a scanner 211,
The application 212, the editor 213, etc. are connected. The operation unit 210 includes a display (see FIG. 5) for displaying the operator's key input and the status of the copying machine, and informs the main CPU 201 of the key input information by serial communication. Based on this information, the main CPU 201 determines whether the indicator of the operation unit is turned on, turned off, or blinks, and serially transmits to the operation unit. The operation unit CPU is the main CPU 20.
The display is turned on, off, and blinks according to the information from 1.
Further, the operating condition of the machine is determined from the obtained information, and the sequence control is performed at the start of copying.
The information is transmitted to 00. The scanner unit 211 serially transmits information regarding scanner servo motor drive control, image processing, and image reading to the main CPU 201, and also performs interface processing between the ADF and the main CPU 201. (See FIG. 5) The application 212 is an external device (fax,
An interface between a printer etc.) and the main CPU 201, exchanging preset information contents, and an editor is a unit for inputting an editing function,
The image edit data (masking, trimming, image shift, etc.) input by the operator is serially transmitted to the main CPU 201. The calendar IC 208 stores the date and time and can be called up at any time by the main CPU 201. Therefore, by turning on / off the power of the machine by setting the time display on the operation unit display and the on / off time of the machine. It becomes possible to control the timer. Gate array 21
Reference numeral 4 outputs image data (DATA0 to DATA7) and a synchronizing signal in the following three directions in response to a select signal from the CPU 201. (1) Scanner control circuit-> image control circuit In this case, the image signal continuously sent from the scanner as 8-bit data (however, 4-bit or 1-bit is also possible) is used as a synchronization signal PMSY from the laser beam scanner unit.
Output to the image control circuit in synchronization with NC. (2) Scanner control circuit → application In this case, 8 bits from the scanner (however, 4 bits, 1
Image signals that are sent continuously in bits can be output in parallel to the application. The application outputs the input image data to an output device such as a printer connected to the outside. (3) Application → image control circuit In this case, the application is 8-bit data from an input device (fax, etc.) externally connected (however,
Image signal continuously transmitted with 4 bits or 1 bit) is used as the synchronization signal PMS from the laser beam scanner unit.
Output to the image control circuit in synchronization with YNC. In this case, when the image signal from the outside is 4 bits or 1 bit, it is necessary to perform a process of converting it into 8-bit data.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the image scanner section. An analog image signal output from the CCD image sensor 250 is amplified and light amount corrected by a signal processing circuit 251 inside an image preprocessor (IPP), and A /
The D converter 252 converts the signals into digital signals. This signal is subjected to correction processing by the shading correction circuit 253, and the image processing unit (IPU)
254 is applied. FIG. 7 shows a schematic block diagram of the image processing unit (IPU) 254. The image signal applied to the IPU is high-frequency emphasized by the MTF correction circuit 270, electrically scaled by the scaling circuit 271, and the γ conversion circuit 272.
Is applied to The γ conversion circuit 272 optimizes the input characteristics in accordance with the characteristics of the machine, and the image signal output from the γ conversion circuit 272 is converted to a predetermined quantization level by the data depth switching mechanism switch 273. This switching mechanism switches to three data types as shown in FIG.
The bit conversion circuit 274 outputs 4-bit data and outputs 2
The binarization circuit 275 converts the input 8-bit multivalued data into binary data by a preset fixed threshold value, and outputs 1-bit data. The dither circuit 276 produces an area gradation with 1-bit data, and the changeover switch 273 selects one of the three data types to select DATA0.
~ Output as DATA7.

The scanner control circuit 255 shown in FIG. 6 follows the instruction from the main CPU 201 and causes the fluorescent lamp ballast 2 to operate.
56, a timing control circuit 257, an electric scaling circuit (not shown) of the IPU, and a scanner drive motor 258, and the fluorescent lamp ballast 256 controls the scanner control circuit 255.
The fluorescent lamp 259 is turned on and off and the light amount is controlled in accordance with the instruction from. A rotary encoder 260 is connected to the drive shaft of the scanner drive motor 258, and the position sensor 261 detects the reference position of the sub-scanning drive mechanism. Further, the electrical scaling circuit performs electrical scaling processing according to the magnification data on the main scanning side set by the scanner control circuit 255, and the timing control circuit 257 outputs each signal according to an instruction from the scanner control circuit 255.

That is, when the reading of the original 262 is started, the timing control circuit 257 outputs a transfer signal for transferring one line of data to the CCD image sensor 250 to the shift register and one bit of the shift register data. Shift clock pulse. A pixel synchronization clock pulse CLK, a main scanning synchronization pulse LSYNC, and a main scanning effective period signal LGATE are output to an image reproduction system control unit (not shown). This pixel synchronization clock pulse CLK is used by the CCD image sensor 2
It is almost the same signal as the shift clock pulse given to 50. The main scanning synchronization pulse LSYNC is the main scanning synchronization signal P output by the beam sensor of the image writing unit.
Although the signal is almost the same as MSYNC, it is output in synchronization with the pixel synchronization clock pulse CLK. The main scanning effective period signal LGATE is output data DATA0 to DATA7.
Goes to a high level H at the timing when it is regarded as valid data. In this example, the CCD image sensor 25
0 outputs 4800 bits of valid data per line. The scanner control circuit 255 is the main CPU 201.
When receiving a reading start instruction from the fluorescent lighting 259
Lights up, starts driving the scanner drive motor 258,
The timing control circuit 257 is controlled to start reading the CCD image sensor 250. Further, the sub-scanning effective period signal FGATE is set to the high level H. This signal F
GATE becomes low level L after the time required to scan the maximum reading length (dimension in the A size longitudinal direction in this example) in the sub-scanning direction after the high level H is set.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the memory system of this apparatus. The image signal from the photosensor (CCD) 280 has an image preprocessor (IPP) 281 having functions of shading correction, black level correction and light amount correction. Is output as 8-bit data. This data is selected by the multiplexer 282, and the spatial frequency high frequency enhancement (MTF correction) function, speed conversion function (magnification), γ conversion function, data depth conversion function 283 (8 bits / 4 bits /
Image process unit (IP) with 1-bit conversion
U) and output to the printer unit PR via the multiplexer 284. In addition, EXTIN, EXTO
UT is an image data input signal from the outside and an output signal to the outside.

Conventionally, in a system having a frame memory for image data, the image data from the IPU 283 is temporarily stored in the memory device 286 as shown in FIG.
A general method is to perform the subsequent copies from the image data from the memory device 286. This device is configured to allow the data flow shown in FIG. 11 so that both processed data and raw data from the IPU can be loaded into the memory device. That is, the data flow can be changed by switching the three multiplexers 282, 284, and 285 shown in FIG. For example, 1
In the case of outputting a copy in which the parameters of the plurality of IPUs 283 are changed by scanning the scanner once, it can be achieved by the following procedure. When scanning the scanner, set the multiplexer 282 to A,
The multiplexer 284 is set to b and the multiplexer 285 is set to A to output the first sheet. At this time, the raw data enters the memory device (MEM) through the multiplexer 284. For the second and subsequent sheets, the multiplexer 282 is set to B, the data from the memory device 286 is put into the IPU 283, and is output to the printer (PR) through the multiplexer 285. At this time, the IPU parameter is changed every time one copy is made. When holding compact data such as 1-bit data, the multiplexer 284 is set to A and the output of the IPU 283 is fetched in the memory device 286.
In this case, the printer PR is binary data (1 bit)
Switch to mode and copy.

FIG. 12 shows a compressor (COMP) 290 and an expander (EXP) 291 as a memory unit (Memory).
(Unit) 292 is inserted before and after so that compressed data other than the actual data can be stored. In this configuration, the compressor (COMP) 290 and the decompressor (EXP) 291 need to operate according to the speed of the scanner and the printer, respectively. When storing actual data, the multiplexers 293 and 294 are set to A, and when compressed data is used, they are set to B. FIG.
14 is an internal configuration of the memory unit 292, and FIG. 14 is a diagram showing image data types in the memory unit. The memory unit 292 converts the data width in order to handle three image data types and code data which is compressed data. The device 296 is provided for the input / output of the memory block 297. Direct memory controller (DMA
1, DMA 2) 298, 299 writes data to a predetermined address of a memory block and performs a read operation according to the number of packed data and the memory width.

Normally, the speed of image data from the scanner or to the printer is constant regardless of 8-bit data, 4-bit data or 1-bit data. That is, the period of 1 pixel is fixed in the device. In this device, 1-bit data from the MSB side of 8 data lines,
It is defined by 4-bit data, 8-bit data and MSB justification, and this data is defined as the data width of the memory block (16
The blocks to be packed and unpacked in (bit) are the input data width converter 296 and the output data width converter 300.
By packing in this way, the memory can be used according to the data depth, and the memory device 286 can be effectively used.

FIG. 15 shows a compressor (COMP) and an expander (E).
Pixel process unit (PPU) instead of XP)
301 is arranged outside the memory unit 292. A function of the PPU 301 is a unit that realizes a logical operation (for example, AND, OR, EXOR, and NOT) between image data, calculates memory output data and input data, and outputs them to the printer, and memory output and input data (for example, scan data). ) Can be calculated and stored again in the memory unit. The output destination printer and the memory unit 292 are switched by the multiplexer 302,
This function is generally used for image composition, and is used, for example, to place overlay data in the memory unit 292 and overlay the scanner data.

FIG. 16 shows a configuration for storing image data using an external storage device. When image data is stored on a floppy disk, it is shown in FIG.
From XTOUT via the interface (I / F) 311, a file controller (File Control)
The data is stored in the floppy disk 310 controlled by the L. Under the control of the file controller 313,
There is a hard disk controller (HDC) 314 and a hard disk drive (HDD) 315, and it is configured to be able to read and write on the storage medium of the hard disk. Also, a hard disk drive (HDD) 3
Reference numeral 15 stores format data and overlay data that are usually used frequently so that they can be used as needed.

FIG. 17 shows a configuration in which 100% recovery is possible when the processing speeds of compression and expansion cannot be met in time. The memory unit 292 is compressed at the same time as the scanner is scanned, and the data and the image data are input, and the input data are stored in different memory areas respectively, but the compressed data are directly input to the decompressor (EXP) 291 and decompressed. It If the processing time of the compressor (COMP) 290 and the decompressor (EXP) 291 is completed normally in time until all the data of one page is stored in the memory unit 292, only the memory area of the compressed data remains and the area of the raw data Is canceled. If the error detection circuit (Error Detect) 304 is a compressor (COM)
When an error signal from P) 290 or expander (EXP) 291 is detected, the compressed data area is immediately canceled and raw data is adopted. Memory management unit (M
The MU) 305 is a unit for controlling the memory so that two input data and one output data can be simultaneously input / output to / from the memory unit 292, and a unit (MMU) 3 for verifying compression and expansion in real time.
Although the memory area can be dynamically allocated by 05, two memory units for raw data and compressed data may be provided. The configuration shown in the figure is most suitable for applications in which a plurality of pages must be stored and the printing speed must be compatible, such as storing a plurality of pages for electronic sorting and outputting them to a printer in real time.

Next, the application unit will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, APL1 (file unit), APL2 (FAX unit), APL3 (ON,
An off-printer unit), an APL4 (LAN), and a display (T / S, LCD) are shown in the system. First, the base part will be described. The engine I / F 400 converts the image data sent in serial into parallel, and the parallel data in the page memory 401 is converted into the engine I / F.
Serial conversion is performed at F400 and sent to EXTIN. The control signal is serial and the engine I / F 400,
It is connected to the system bus via an SCI (serial communication interface) 402. In this example, the page memory 401 has a size of one page of A3, and the page memory 401 converts it into a BIT image at the same time as the EXTI.
It also arbitrates the data speed of N and EXTOUT and the processing speed of the CPU. The scaling circuit 403 enlarges or reduces the data on the page memory by this circuit, and uses the DMAC 404 to perform high-speed processing without intervention of the CPU.

For example, when the original to be sent is A4 vertical and the receiving is A4 horizontal in the FAX transmission, the control side automatically sends 71
FAX sent after being reduced to% and sent on the receiving side
In order to prevent the manuscript from being difficult to read, the transmission manuscript is rotated by 90 degrees when the size is set, and the manuscript is controlled so as to be converted into A4 landscape and transmitted at the same size. Further, as another purpose of the control circuit, when the reception size is A4 horizontal and the cassette size is A4 vertical when receiving and outputting, the rotation control unit rotates the output image by 90 degrees and converts it into A4 vertical and outputs. . This eliminates the need to distinguish between vertical and horizontal cassettes. CE
P405 is a circuit having functions of image data compression, expansion, and through, and the bus arbiter 406 is an ADGC4.
It is used to send data from the image bus 30 to the image bus and to send the data to the system bus. The RTC 407 is a clock and generates the current time, and the console 408 is a terminal for control. This terminal uses a debug tool that is a function of the internal OS in addition to reading and rewriting data inside the system. You can also develop software. The ROM 409 stores basic functions such as the OS, and the RAM 410 is mainly used for working. That is, the above-mentioned base unit is a part that performs the basic control of this system.

Next, the APL1 will be described. The SCSI 411 connected to the system bus is an I / F for HDD (hard disk), ODD (optical disk), and FDD (floppy disk), and the ROM 412 controls HDD, ODD, FDD, and the like 413 via SCSI, and a filing system. Is stored as software.
Next, the APL2 will be described. This part is a unit for FAX control, controls the protocol for G4,
G that supports Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 of G4
A 4FAX controller 415 is provided. The G4FA
Needless to say, the X controller 415 also supports ISDN, and 2B + 1D (64KBx in NET64).
2 + 16KB) line, so G4 / G4, G4 /
It is a unit that can select only G3, G3 / G3, G4, or only G3.

The G3FAX controller 416 is a unit for controlling the G3 protocol, and has a G3FAX protocol by an analog line and a modem for converting a digital signal into an analog signal in this portion. The G3FA
An NCU (Network Control Unit) 417 connected to the X controller has a function of dialing when connecting to the other party using an exchange or when receiving an incoming call from the other party. SAF (Store and Forward)
Reference numeral 418 is for accumulating image data (including image data, code data, etc.) at the time of transmitting and receiving FAX, and for example, a semiconductor memory, HDD, ODD, etc. are used. Further, the ROM 419 contains a program for controlling the APL2, and the RAM4
Numeral 20 is for those works and at the same time non-volatile by a battery, in which the telephone number of the other party, the name of the other party, data for controlling the FAX function, etc. are stored, and T / S of the display unit, which will be described later, It can be easily set using the LCD.

Next, the APL3 will be described. This unit is a control unit for an online printer and an offline printer, and an FDC (floppy disk controller) 421 controls a floppy disk 422. Some of recent floppy disks support SCSI, and here, those supporting SCSI and ST506 interface are used. SCI
(Serial communication interface) 42
3 is used for connection with a HOST computer, and the Centro I / F 424 is similar to SCI. On the other hand, the emulation card 425 has the following functions. That is, when looking at the printer from the HOST, at present, printers of many manufacturers such as NEC and EPSON are used, and the use of each printer is somewhat different depending on the manufacturer. Therefore, the software used in the HOST may not operate unless the functions of these printers are the same as seen from the HOST. In order to eliminate such a situation, an emulation card 425 is provided so that the software contained therein apparently operates as a printer of each manufacturer when viewed from the HOST. A
A GDC (Advanced Graphics Display Controller) 430 develops a FONT image in the CGROM 431 or the CG card 432 at high speed based on the code data sent from the HOST.
ROM) 431 stores FONT data corresponding to code data, and a certain FONT format has an outline FO.
Data such as NT has been entered. Further, the CG card 432 is an external CGFONT, and the contents are the CG
It is similar to the ROM. Further, the ROM 433 stores software for controlling these.

Next, the APL4 will be described. APL
Reference numeral 4 denotes a LAN control unit, which controls the currently operating LANs such as Ethernet, omni, and star line. Naturally APL2 (FAX), APL4
The (LAN) is designed to operate in the background even when another APL is operating. The display unit controls the LCD 440 and the touch switch 441. The LCD 440 can display graphics and characters, and the CG therein has ANK and a second level code for feeling. Further, the TSC 442 is a touch switch controller, and the TSC 442 for controlling the T / S 441 is divided into X and Y grids, and the size of the switch used by the operator is T.
It can be set freely by determining the number of grids for one key by SC442. Furthermore, LCD4
The 40 and the T / S 441 have a two-layer structure so that the key size and the LCD key frame can correspond to each other.

The display editor according to the present invention displays the document image data read by the scanner on the LCD, and the operator can specify the position on the document while the document is set on the contact glass. is there. FIG. 19 is a block diagram of the editor. In the figure, the editor is connected to the host PPC by a command line for exchanging commands with the main CPU 201 and a data line for receiving image data output from the scanner control circuit. Has been done. FIG. 20 is an external view of the display editor. 450 is a start key for starting image reading, 451 is a screen magnification designation key for designating a display magnification, and 452 is a read original. A liquid crystal display for displaying images and edited data, 453 is a cursor movement key, 454 is a coordinate input key, 455 is an end (close) key for confirming a designated area, 456 is a clear key for canceling the input, 457. Is an all clear key for canceling all image data and edit data.

The image reading operation will be described below. When the reading start key 450 is pressed, the editor sends a request via the command line to the host PPC for reading, and the host PPC receives the request and performs a document reading operation by the scanner. At this time, the signal switching gate array is switched to the editor, and the read image data is sent from the scanner control circuit to the editor through the data line. On the editor side, the sent image data is stored in the image data storage DRAM via the line buffer (FIFO), and the data is transferred by the D built in the CPU.
This is done using the MA controller. The judgment of the start and end of the image data is made by the FGATE signal sent from the scanner control circuit via the data line. DRAM
The image data stored in is displayed on the LCD by being sent to the VRAM, and the transfer from the DRAM to the VRAM is also performed by the DMAC of the CPU, and the enlargement / reduction display or the partial display can be performed by transferring an arbitrary part of the image data. It will be possible.

Next, an area designation method using an editor will be described. Cursor 458 on LCD
Is displayed. By moving this with the cursor movement key 453 and pressing the coordinate input key 454, the coordinates of an arbitrary point on the document can be designated. Further, a scale display 459 is displayed on the upper and right sides of the read image, and a grid (point group) is displayed at a position corresponding to the scale memory in the image display area. Display / non-display can be switched by setting the grid, and the display magnification of the image can be set to 100%, 150%, or 300% by using the magnification designation key 451.
You can switch between stages. The display after changing the magnification is
Since it is performed centering on the position where the cursor is on the screen before changing the magnification, the display position can be easily specified especially when the magnification is increased. When specifying an area with the editor, use the cursor movement keys and coordinate specification keys to specify each vertex of the area, and when you first try to enter the start point, send the coordinate data to the host PPC and After correcting the data, the data is transmitted again to the editor, and the editor causes the + mark indicating the coordinate position for the data from the host to be displayed on the LCD. Similarly for the second and subsequent points, send the coordinate data to be input to the host, display the + mark that indicates the coordinate position for the response data from the host, and display the line between the + mark at the previously specified point. indicate. Area is confirmed by pressing the end key 455 RE
When the Q command is transmitted to the host and the area confirmation command is received from the host, a line is drawn between the start point and the end point to fix the area. Of course, when a command is independently sent from the host PPC, the display according to the command is performed. Further, the editor can display the image image after trimming or masking the set area. At this time, the display magnification is automatically 100%
It returns to (Whole display) and returns to the original magnification when the image display is stopped. This allows the user to try the edited copy result without wasting paper. Also, when only one area is specified and the trimming mode is set, calculate and display the optimum magnification and display range on the document that will fill the editor screen. You can

Next, the operation unit will be described. FIG. 21 is an external view of the operation unit, which includes hard keys such as a numeric keypad and touch panel keys arranged on the liquid crystal.
Numeral 460 is a ten-key for setting the number of copies, 461 is a liquid crystal display screen equipped with a touch panel for displaying operation status and messages, and 462 is a guidance key used when shifting to a mode for displaying a function explanation and scanning method. ,
463 is a program key used when registering or calling frequently used settings, 464 is an area processing key used when specifying an area or setting a copy mode for each area, and 465 is a brightness of a liquid crystal display screen Brightness control knob 466 used for adjusting the mode is used when canceling the set contents or setting the remaining heat state by continuous pressing for a certain time or longer.
Timer keys 467 are interrupt keys that are interrupted during the copying operation and used when copying another document.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the configuration of the touch panel detection circuit. In the figure, 468 is a controller that controls the entire circuit, and 469 is an A / D converter that converts an analog signal into a digital signal. Controller 4
The detection terminal is set to HIGH state by 68, and X1, X2,
Y1 and Y2 are set based on the combination table shown in FIG. Since the Y1 and Y2 circuits are pulled up,
When the touch panel is OFF, Y1 is + 5V, and when it is ON, it is 0V. Therefore, the A / D converter 46
The ON / OFF state can be confirmed from the output of 9. When the controller 468 detects the touch panel ON state, it switches to the measurement mode, and X1 is + when in the X direction.
5V and X2 are 0V, the potential at the input position is connected to the A / D converter 469 via Y1, and the coordinates are calculated. Further, the coordinates in the Y direction are calculated in the same manner by switching the circuit, and the pressed position of the touch panel is detected.

FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the operation unit, in which 510 is a CPU for controlling the entire operation unit, 511 is an address latch, 512 is a ROM,
513 is a system reset connected to the CPU, 51
4 is an address decoder, 515 is an LED driver, 51
6 is a keyboard and 517 is an LCD controller.
In addition to the address bus and data bus from the CPU 510, the LCD controller 517 has an LED driver 515, a keyboard 516, and an analog touch panel 5.
21, LCD module 520, and R for display data
An OM 518, a RAM 519, etc. are connected. Also C
An optical transceiver 522 that executes serial communication with the outside is connected to the PU 510.

In the above configuration, the address signal from the CPU 510 is taken in by the address latch 511 and is changed to C
It is controlled by a signal from the PU 510. A part of the signal output from the address latch is input to the address decoder 514, where a chip select for each IC is made and used for making a memory map. The address is ROM, R
It enters a memory such as AM or the LCD controller 517 and is used for addressing. On the other hand, the data bus from the CPU 510 is connected to the memory or the LCD controller 517, and bidirectional data communication is executed. Further, the LCD controller 517 uses the signals from the keyboard 516 and the touch panel 521 to read the ROM 518 and the RAM 5 from each other.
Display data is created from the stored data of 19 and the display on the LCD module 520 is controlled.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a liquid crystal display screen. In the figure, 530 is "you can copy",
A message area for displaying a message such as "please wait", 531 for the number of copies set in the upper row, and a copy number display section for displaying the number of copies in the lower row, 532 is an automatic density key for automatically adjusting the image density, and 533 is Automatic paper selection key for self-selecting transfer paper, 534 is a paper designation scaling key for automatically enlarging / reducing the transfer paper size, and 535 is processing for aligning copies one by one in page order. A sort key, 536 is a stack key for designating a process for sorting copies into pages, 537 is a staple key for designating a process for binding the sorted products one by one, 538 is a special document feed key, and 539 is a scaling key. 540 is a double-sided / page continuous shooting key, 541 is an erase / move key, and 542 is a cover / insert sheet key.

FIGS. 26 (a) and 26 (b) are views showing an example of screen development by pressing the area processing key of the hard key. When the area processing key is pressed, the area designation and each area shown in FIG. 26 (b) are designated. The screen for setting the mode is displayed. At this time, the area designation input from the editor becomes possible, and the operator can designate any area. FIG. 27 shows an area to be edited when the area is specified by a right-angled polygon. The edit target area is represented by the smallest rectangle that includes the area specified by the user (the shaded area in the figure). FIG. 28 shows a case where an area is designated by a polygon including a diagonal line, and similarly, the editing target area is represented by the smallest rectangle including the user designated area.

FIG. 29 is a flow chart showing the processing for obtaining the two diagonal points of the above-mentioned edit target area. In FIG. 27 or FIG. 28, when the number of vertices of the area designated by the user is n, the respective coordinates are To (X0, Y0), (X
1, Y1) ... (Xn, Yn) and the farthest vertex is (Xmax, Ymax), the initial values are (Xmin, Ymin) = (X0, Y0), (Xm).
ax, Ymax) = (X0, Y0), and counter i =
It is set to 0 (step 1). After that, i is compared with n (step 2), the process is terminated when i becomes n or more, and when i is n or less, Xmin and Xi are first compared (step 3), When Xmin> Xi is true, Xm
Replace in with Xi (step 4). On the other hand, Xm
When in> Xi is false, Xmax and Xi are compared (step 5), and when Xmax <Xi is true, Xmax is replaced with Xi (step 6). Similarly, Ymin and Yi are compared (step 7). When Ymin> Yi is true, Ym
Replace in with Yi (step 8), Yma if false
x is compared with Yi (step 9), and when Ymax <Yi is true, Ymax is replaced with Yi (step 10).

Thereafter, this process is repeated for i <n (steps 11 and 2), and when the above process is completed (Xmin, Ymin) and (Xmax, Ymax), the smallest rectangular shape including the user-specified area is displayed. It indicates the coordinates of two diagonal points. Further, even when there are a plurality of user-specified areas as shown in FIG. 30, the smallest rectangle including the user-specified area can be obtained by the same process. As described above, the amount of movement of the position to be moved from the original reference is calculated for the area to be changed, and the paper feed timing (sub-scanning direction) with respect to the scanning start of the optical system and the image data output for one line The image is moved by relatively changing the timing (main scanning direction).

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if the designated image area is a right-angled polygon or a polygon with diagonal lines, the effective image area can be calculated and the image can be moved. Even if a plurality of areas are designated, the effective image area is calculated in the same manner, and the image can be moved easily.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a digital copying machine.

FIG. 2A is a plan view of a writing unit in the digital copying machine, and FIG. 2B is a side view of the writing unit in the digital copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a layout example of a writing unit.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of an electrical equipment control unit.

FIG. 5 is an overall block diagram of an electrical equipment control unit.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an image scanner unit.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an image processing unit.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing three data types.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a memory system of a device according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a conventional data flow.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a data flow.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of a memory device.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a memory unit.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an image data type in a memory unit.

FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram of a memory device.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a configuration for saving image data using an external storage device.

FIG. 17 is a configuration diagram of a memory device.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of an application unit.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of an editor.

FIG. 20 is an external view of a display editor.

FIG. 21 is an external view of the operation unit.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a configuration of a touch panel detection circuit.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a combination of X and Y terminals on the touch panel.

FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an operation unit.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a liquid crystal display screen.

26A is a diagram showing an example of screen development by pressing an area processing key of a hard key, and FIG. 26B is a diagram showing an example of screen development by pressing an area processing key of a hard key.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an edit target area when an area is specified by a right-angled polygon.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an edit target area when an area is designated by a polygon including oblique lines.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a process of obtaining two diagonal points of the edit target area.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an edit target area when there are a plurality of user-specified areas.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 reflecting mirror, 2, 4, 5 mirror, 3 light source, 6 color filter, 8 one-dimensional solid-state image sensor, 9 contact glass, 10 image processing substrate, 20 semiconductor laser, 21
Collimating lens, 22 cylinder lens, 24 polygon mirror, 32 aperture, 40 photosensitive drum, 4
2a, 42b developing device, 44 transfer charger, 50
Photo sensor, 60a, 60b, 60c cassette, 2
00 210 CPU, 202 sensor, 203 driver, 204 sorter unit, 205 laser unit / scanner unit, 206 analog input.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising an image reading device such as a scanner, an image processing device for arbitrarily processing an image with respect to a read image, and an area specifying device by which an operator can specify an arbitrary processing area. An image characterized in that when an arbitrary image movement is performed on a polygonal area designated by the area designating device, the image is moved to a minimum rectangle including the designated area. Forming equipment. 2. An image forming apparatus comprising an image reading device such as a scanner, an image processing device for arbitrarily processing an image with respect to a read image, and an area specifying device by which an operator can specify an arbitrary processing area. When performing an arbitrary image movement with respect to a plurality of areas designated by the area designation device, the image movement is performed with respect to the smallest rectangle including all the designated areas. Image forming apparatus.