JPH09114573A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the burden of a device with a copying function by identifying a set value set based on a menu, executing arithmetic corresponding to it so as to generate a parameter and sending the parameter to an external device. SOLUTION: An operator operates a density adjusting part 201 to adjust density, operates a contrast adjusting part 202 to adjust contrast and adjusts color balance adjusting parts 203 to 205 to adjust the color balance of R, G and B. After then, at the time of clicking a copy start button 207, CPU within a computer executes arithmetic in accordance with a density adjusted value, a contrast adjusted value and a color balance adjusted value to generate a table. In addition this table and a table for correcting the characteristic of a printer are joined to prepare one density correction table. Then CPU transmits data in the density correction table to the side of a color copying device through an RS232C interface part.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method for processing information such as image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a conventional color copying apparatus. In FIG. 7, 101 is an image reading unit that reads an image in color and outputs 8-bit multivalued data for red, green, and blue (hereinafter referred to as R, G, and B, respectively), and 102 is R, G, and The image signals of B are cyan, magenta, and yellow (hereinafter, C,
Luminance density conversion processing unit for converting into M, Y), 10
3 is C converted by the luminance density conversion processing unit 102,
A masking conversion unit that performs masking conversion to match the M and Y image signals with the characteristics of the printer, 104 is a density correction processing unit that corrects characteristics such as density, contrast, and color balance during print output, and 105 is An error diffusion processing unit for converting an 8-bit multi-valued signal output from the density correction unit 104 into a binary signal by an error diffusion process, 106
Is a bubble jet printer (hereinafter referred to as BJ printer) that prints out binary image signals of C, M, and Y, 107 is a ROM that stores a program, 108 is a RAM for a CPU work area, and 109 is a color copying apparatus. A CPU 701 that performs overall control is an operation unit for setting adjustment values for density, contrast, and color balance and for instructing start and stop of copy operation.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the conventional operation and the operation of the apparatus corresponding thereto. The operation will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

First of all, the operator must change the density, contrast,
Set the color balance adjustment value.

FIG. 8 shows the arrangement of operation buttons and the like of the operation unit 701 in detail. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 803 is a display showing the density adjustment value, 801 is a button for lowering the density adjustment value, 802 is a button for increasing the density adjustment value,
Reference numeral 806 is a display showing the contrast adjustment value, 804 is a button for lowering the contrast adjustment value, and 805 is a button for increasing the contrast adjustment value.

Reference numeral 809 denotes an indicator showing the R color balance adjustment value, 807 a button for lowering the R color balance adjustment value, 808 a button for increasing the R color balance adjustment value, and 812 a G button. A display for indicating the color balance adjustment value, 810 is a button for lowering the G color balance adjustment value, and 811 is a button for increasing the G color balance adjustment value.

Reference numeral 815 is a display showing the B color balance adjustment value, 813 is a button for lowering the B color balance adjustment value, 814 is a button for increasing the B color balance adjustment value, and 816 is a copy button. A copy stop button for stopping the copying, and a copy start button 817 for starting the copying.

First, the operator operates the density adjustment buttons 801, 80.
2 is operated to adjust the density (step S901). Then, the contrast adjustment buttons 804, 805 are operated to adjust the contrast (step S902), and the color balance adjustment buttons 807, 808, 810, 811, 8 are displayed.
The color balance of R, G, and B is adjusted by operating 13, 814 (step S903).

After that, when the copy start button 817 is pressed (step S904), the CPU 109 creates a table according to the density adjustment value, the contrast adjustment value, and the color balance adjustment value, and combines the table with the table for correcting the printer characteristics. Then, one density correction table for each of C, M, and Y is created (step S905).

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the density correction characteristic.
The horizontal axis represents the input image level and the vertical axis represents the output image level.

Next, the CPU 109 sets the data of the created density correction table in the density correction unit 104 (step S906). Next, the image reading unit 101 reads the document (step S909) and outputs an 8-bit image signal for each of R, G, and B colors. The brightness density conversion processing unit 102 performs brightness density conversion on the output image signal (step S908).

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the characteristics of the brightness density conversion. The conversion obtains the C data from the R input value by referring to the brightness density conversion characteristics table. Similarly, luminance density conversion is performed by obtaining G to M and B to Y.

Next, the masking conversion is performed by the masking conversion unit 1.
03 (step S909). The conversion is performed by a one-dimensional matrix operation having a size of 3 × 3. The purpose of masking conversion is to obtain the target density by adjusting the density of unnecessary components of the actual ink that deviates from the ideal spectral characteristics. Next, the density correction is performed by the density correction unit 104 (step S910). The purpose of the density correction is to perform density adjustment, contrast adjustment, color balance adjustment, and printer characteristic correction set by the operator. In S910,
Conversion is performed for each color of C, M, and Y by referring to the table.

Next, the error diffusion processing unit 105 performs error diffusion processing (step S911) to convert the 8-bit signal for each color of C, M and Y into a 1-bit binary signal for each color. Finally, the binarized C, M, and Y image signals are output to the BJ printer 10
At 6, the print output is performed and the color copy operation is completed.

[0015]

Conventionally, when copying an original, a large number of operation buttons for setting the density, contrast, color balance, etc. are required in the main body of the copying apparatus for performing the copying, and the entire copying apparatus becomes expensive. There was a problem that it would end up.

Further, when the above-mentioned settings are made from the operation unit, it is necessary for a high-performance arithmetic unit or an arithmetic unit for performing an operation for generating various image processing parameters based on the setting contents from the operation unit. However, there is a problem that the entire copying machine becomes expensive because it requires a storage unit for storing various data.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has an object to reduce the load on an apparatus having a copying function when copying a document.

Further, when copying an original, the load on the operation unit of the apparatus having a copying function is reduced, and
Another object is to reduce the load on the arithmetic unit and the storage unit of this device.

In addition to the above purposes, another object is to perform appropriate image processing on each original.

[0020]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to an information processing apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention, in an information processing apparatus connected to an external device having a document copying function, Control means for controlling a predetermined display means to display a menu for setting various setting values when the external device copies a document, and identification means for identifying the setting value set based on the menu. And generating means for generating a parameter by performing an operation according to the set value identified by the identifying means, and sending means for sending the parameter to the external device.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a color copying machine according to this embodiment. In FIG. 1, 101 is an image reading unit that reads an image as a color image and outputs 8-bit multi-valued data of red, green, and blue (hereinafter referred to as R, G, and B, respectively), and 102 is R, G. , B image signals of cyan, magenta, and yellow (hereinafter referred to as C, M, and Y, respectively) are converted to a brightness density conversion processing unit, and 103 is a C, M, and Y converted by the brightness density conversion processing unit 102. Is a masking conversion unit that performs masking conversion in order to match the image signal of 1 to the characteristics of the printer.

Reference numeral 104 denotes a density correction processing unit for correcting characteristics such as density, contrast and color balance at the time of print output, and 105 denotes an 8-bit multi-valued signal output from the density correction unit 104 by error diffusion processing. It is an error diffusion processing unit for converting into a binary signal.

Reference numeral 106 denotes a bubble jet printer (hereinafter referred to as a BJ printer) that outputs binary image signals of C, M, and Y, 107 is a ROM that stores a program, and 108 is an R for a work area of the CPU.
AM and 109 are CPs for controlling the entire color copying apparatus
U and 110 are RS232C interface units for interfacing with a computer.

Reference numeral 111 is a CR for displaying a menu screen or the like.
T, 112 is a CRT interface unit for interfacing between the CPU and CRT, 113 is a ROM for storing various control programs, 114 is a RAM for the work area of the CPU, 115 is an RS232C interface unit for interfacing with a color copying apparatus, and 116 is CR
CP for controlling the mouse 118 for controlling the T111 and the man-machine interface and the entire computer
U and 117 are mouse interface units that interface the CPU 116 and the mouse 118.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation in this embodiment and the operation of the apparatus according to the operation, which will be described in detail below with reference to the drawing.

First, the operator sets the adjustment values for density, contrast and color balance using the menu as shown in FIG. Here, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a menu screen displayed on the CRT 111. In FIG. 2, 201 is a density adjusting unit for adjusting the density, 202 is a contrast adjusting unit for adjusting the contrast, and 203, 204, 205 are color balance adjusting units for adjusting the R, G, B color balances, respectively. , 201 to 205 are adjusted by dragging and moving a triangular index with the mouse 118. Reference numeral 206 is a copy stop button for stopping copying, and 207 is a copy start button for starting copying.

In FIG. 5, the operator operates the density adjusting unit 201 to adjust the density (step S501), operates the contrast adjusting unit 202 to adjust the contrast (step S502), and the color balance adjusting units 203 and 20.
The color balance of R, G, and B is adjusted by operating Nos. 4 and 205 (step S503). After that, when the copy start button 207 is clicked (step S504), the CPU 116 in the computer performs a calculation by a predetermined calculation method according to the density adjustment value, the contrast adjustment value, and the color balance adjustment value to generate a table. Further, this table and a table for correcting the characteristics of the printer are combined to create one density correction table for each of C, M, and Y (step S505).

FIG. 3 shows an example of the density correction characteristic. In FIG. 3, the horizontal axis represents the input image level and the vertical axis represents the output image level. The CPU 116 on the computer side transmits the data of the density correction table to the color copying apparatus side through the RS232C interface unit 115 (step S50).
6).

FIG. 4 shows an example of a format when the data of the density correction table is transmitted from the computer to the color copying apparatus, in which the density correction tables for three colors of C, M and Y are sequentially transmitted. First, an identifier 001H indicating that the data is C data is sent, and then 256 bytes of C
The density correction data of is transmitted. Subsequently, an identifier 002H indicating that the data is M data is sent, and M of 256 bytes is transmitted.
The density correction data of is transmitted. First, an identifier 003H indicating that it is Y data is sent, and 256 bytes of Y are sent.
The density correction data of is transmitted. In this case, 7 in total
It will be 71 bytes.

In this embodiment, a density correction table is created and transmitted for each copy operation. This makes it possible to use the optimum density correction table for each image.

On the color copying machine side, the CPU 109 reads R
The data of the density correction table is received through the S232C interface unit 110. Next, the CPU 109 transfers the received data of the density correction table to the density correction unit 104 (step S507).

When the transfer and setting of the data of the density correction table is completed, the CPU 116 on the computer side transmits a command instructing the start of copying to the color copying apparatus side (step S508). CP on the color copying machine side
When the U109 receives the command to start copying, the image reading unit 101 discloses reading the document (step S509), and outputs an 8-bit image signal for each of R, G, and B colors.

Next, the luminance density conversion processing unit 102 performs luminance density conversion on the image signal output in S509 (step S510).

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the characteristics of the luminance density conversion. The conversion obtains the C data from the R input value by referring to the luminance density conversion characteristic table. Similarly, the luminance density conversion for obtaining G to M and B to Y is performed.

Next, the masking conversion unit 1 performs the masking conversion.
03 (step S511). The conversion is performed by a one-dimensional matrix operation having a size of 3 × 3. The purpose of masking conversion is to obtain the target density by adjusting the density of the unnecessary components of the actual ink that deviates from the ideal spectral characteristics.

Next, density correction is performed by the density correction unit 104 (step S512). The purpose of the density correction is to perform density adjustment, contrast adjustment, color balance adjustment, and printer characteristic correction set by the operator. As the density correction table to be referred to, the density correction table transmitted from the computer side in step S506 is used. S512
Then, conversion is performed for each color of C, M, and Y by referring to the table.

Next, the error diffusion processing unit 105 performs error diffusion processing (step S513) to convert the 8-bit signal of each color of C, M and Y into a 1-bit binary signal of each color. Finally, the binarized C, M, and Y image signals are output to the BJ printer 10
At 6, the print output is performed and the color copy operation is completed.

In the above embodiment, the interface between the color copying machine and the computer is RS23.
Although the example using 2C is shown, SCSI, Centronics interface, or other interface may be used instead.

Further, in the present embodiment, the color balance adjustment is performed for R, G, and B, but the adjustment may be performed for C, M, and Y.

Further, in the present embodiment, the processing for the color data of three colors has been described, but black extraction or the like is performed and the color data for four colors such as C, M, Y and black data are extracted. You may process after converting into data.

The error diffusion processing unit 105 and the BJ printer 106 may be replaced with a color laser printer or a thermal sublimation printer capable of multi-value output.

(Other Embodiments) In the above embodiments, an operation unit 1001 (only a minimum necessary button such as a start button) for the color copying apparatus to independently make a copy without receiving an instruction from a computer is provided. The case of having it will be described with reference to FIG.

By pressing the start button of the operation unit 1001 in FIG. 10, an image can be independently copied regardless of the connection status of the computer. At this time, a default density correction table is set in the density correction unit.

In the configuration of FIG. 10, the computer is provided with a mode in which only the copy start command is transmitted to the color copying apparatus without transmitting the density correction table from the computer (that is, the default table is used as the density correction table). Side does not need to perform arithmetic processing to generate the density correction table. This is the density adjustment, contrast adjustment,
When color balance adjustment is rarely performed, copy processing can be performed efficiently.

Further, when the density correction table is transmitted from the computer together with the copy start command to the color copying apparatus side, the density correction table is used only for this series of copying operations (a plurality of originals may be used). , When the copy operation is completed, the default table is restored.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention, when copying a document, it is possible to reduce the load on the apparatus having a copying function.

When copying a document, the load on the operation unit of the apparatus having a copy function is reduced and
It is possible to reduce the load on the arithmetic unit and the storage unit of this device.

In addition to the above purposes, appropriate image processing can be performed on each document.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a color copying apparatus used in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a menu displayed on a CRT 111.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of density correction characteristics.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a format of transfer data of a density correction table.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a flow of a copy operation.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a luminance density conversion characteristic.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a conventional color copying apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a conventional operation unit.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a flow of a conventional copy operation.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a color copying apparatus according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 image reading unit 104 density correction unit 106 bubble jet printer 109 CPU 110 RS232C interface unit 111 CRT 116 CPU 118 mouse

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus connected to an external device having a document copy function, wherein a menu for setting various setting values when the external device copies a document is displayed on a predetermined display means. Control means for controlling, identification means for identifying a set value set based on the menu, generating means for generating a parameter by performing an operation according to the set value identified by the identifying means, An information processing apparatus comprising: a sending unit that sends a parameter to the external device. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the parameter generated by the generating unit is a table for image processing used when the external device performs copying. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image processing table is a density correction table. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sending of the parameter by the sending unit is performed for each copy of the original document. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external device is a color copying machine. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the various setting values include a density adjustment value, a contrast adjustment value, or a color balance adjustment value. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external device does not have an operation unit for setting the various setting values. 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined display means is a device connected to the outside. 9. An information processing method capable of controlling an external device having a copy function, the step of displaying a menu for setting various setting values when the external device makes a copy on a predetermined display means, An identification step of identifying a setting value set based on a menu, a generation step of generating a parameter by performing an operation according to the setting value identified in the identification step, and transmitting the parameter to the external device. An information processing method comprising: a sending step. 10. An information processing apparatus for copying an original using a reading unit for reading an original and generating image data, an image processing unit for image-processing the image data, and an output unit for outputting the image data. A command for copying the image data, a receiving unit for receiving an image processing table used when performing image processing by the image processing unit from an external device, and a reading unit for starting reading of an original document according to the command. And an image processing unit for controlling the image data so that the image processing unit performs image processing on the image data using the image processing table and outputs the image data by the output unit. apparatus. 11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the image processing table is a density correction table. 12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the reception of the image processing table by the receiving unit is performed for each original. 13. An information processing method for copying a manuscript, the step of receiving a command for copying the manuscript, and an image processing table used when performing image processing by an image processing means from an external device; Then, the reading of the image data is started by the predetermined reading means, the image data is processed by the predetermined image processing means by using the image processing table, and the image data is output by the predetermined output means. An information processing method, comprising: