JPH09179964A - System and method for image input/output data processing, and input/output data controller for the same system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the image input/output data processing system which saves an image memory by compressing image data needed for processing such as storage and can process an image with high definition. SOLUTION: The input/output data controller 1 converts 8-bit RGB image data read by a color scanner into print data consisting of binary CMYK data by a printer data processing part 13 (RGB-CMYK conversion) and stores the data in a print data storage memory 14. When the data is displayed on a display screen, a display data processing part 16 converts the binary print data into the RGB display data and outputs the data. Further, image data from a host computer and the binarized image data are constituted in a memory 14 and outputted to a printer.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image input / output data processing system for processing and outputting input image data and a processing method thereof, and further to an input / output data controller used in the image input / output data processing system. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Image input / output data processing systems for processing and outputting input image data such as color images and monochrome images include, for example, digital color printers and copiers with an interface with a host computer,
Alternatively, there is a system in which a host computer is equipped with an image input / output device. In such a system, usually, a host computer interface is added to a digital color printer or a copying machine, the data from the image input section is once taken into the host computer, the halftone data is processed, and then the host computer is further processed. I used to combine it with a document created on a computer, output it to a digital color copier, and print it. Further, when the image is not combined with the original on the host computer, the image data of the image input section is converted into print data of the image output section and is output in real time.

Further, as already known from, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 66-189111, when image data processing is generally performed using a host computer to which an image input device and an image output device are connected, first, the image input device Read the whole image at low resolution from. After that, set the reading resolution, reading gamma, and reading brightness for the necessary parts, scan again to read, edit the read data independently, and then on the host computer, edit the original for which you want to combine the images. The created or opened document is pasted with the read and edited screen, and enlarged, reduced, cut out, or embedded. In this way, the final document is created, then the data for the image output device is created, and the data is transferred to the image output device for printing.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned method of the prior art, the operation is complicated, and it takes a lot of time from image reading to printing, and
Since a large amount of image data is read by the scanner, a large amount of memory is required for the processing. On the other hand, if an image is read roughly in order to lighten the image handling (processing), it will be displayed fine on the display, but when this is printed, the image quality will deteriorate due to the coarse pixels.

Further, in the above-mentioned reading operation in the prior art, conventionally, when the original is placed at an angle, the original is placed again and read. Therefore, twice, 3
And the complicated operation of opening the lid of the reading device was required.

Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, an object of the present invention is, in particular, a color image input / output data processing system capable of saving an image memory and capable of inputting / outputting an image at high speed, and its processing. A method, as well as providing an input / output data controller for use in such a system.

[0007]

Therefore, according to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, image input / output data for temporarily storing image data, processing the input image data, and outputting the processed image data. A processing method, wherein the input image data is converted into binary data for printing, and the image data converted into the binary data for printing is saved, is proposed. To be done.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided an image input / output data processing system for storing image data at least temporarily, processing the input image data and outputting the image data, wherein the image data input is for inputting the image data. Means, processing means for processing the image data from the image data input means, and at least storage means for temporarily storing the image data, wherein the storage means stores the image data There is proposed an image input / output data processing system characterized in that the image data input and output is converted into binary data for printing.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, there is provided an input / output data control device in an image input / output data processing system, which stores image data at least temporarily, processes the input image data, and outputs the processed image data. A printer data processing unit for converting the image data input from the input unit into binary data for printing, and an input / output unit with the outside. An input / output data control device has been proposed in which the image data converted into binary data for printing by the printer data processing unit via the input / output unit can be output to the outside for saving the image data. It

That is, according to the present invention, in the image input / output data processing system, the read data is processed into binary print data at the time of reading,
It saves image memory and enables high-definition printing at the same time.

[0012] Further, when explained according to the embodiments of the present invention described in detail below, in particular, the input / output data control device fetches read data from an image reading device through an interface, and if it is a monochrome image, In the means for converting the read data into binary printing image data, density conversion, image output gamma correction, and binary gradation processing are performed. If it is a color image, RGB-in the means for converting the read data into binary printing image data.
KCMY conversion, gamma correction for image printing, and binarization gradation processing are performed. As the binarization gradation processing, there are a dither method, a density pattern method, an error diffusion method and the like. Color gradation processing is
Furthermore, a screen angle (having an array of pixels) is added to each color, and four KCMY colors are superimposed to prevent color misregistration. When the resolution of the image reading device is lower than the resolution of the image printing device, resolution conversion (enlargement processing) is performed before the binarization gradation process, or the enlargement process is performed by using a density pattern method or the like in the binarization gradation process. I do. Then, the memory that stores the image data for printing may store the image data after binarization, and may further store the compressed data.

On the other hand, the user displays the original on the host computer on the display and embeds the read image. At this time, using the means for converting the printing image data into multi-valued display image data, the binarized data is read out from the memory (data is expanded if the data is compressed), and converted into multi-valued display image data. Convert and display on the display. The user enlarges or reduces the read image or cuts the image and embeds it at a predetermined position. The print image cutout position, the enlargement / reduction ratio, and the embedding position information at this time are sent to the input / output data control device as edit information and are held therein.

Further, when there is a print request from the user, the host computer develops the document on the host computer into print data and stores it in the memory on the host computer. Alternatively, the input / output data control device is provided with means for expanding the code data of the original document on the host computer for the image printing device, whereby the original document on the host computer is expanded for the image printing device and stored in the memory. Then, it is combined with the read image data for printing on the memory based on the editing information. The combined print image data is output to the image printing apparatus via an interface for outputting to the image printing apparatus. At this time, the image may be output to the image printing apparatus while being combined using a combining unit.

Further, according to the embodiment of the present invention which will be described in detail below, in the color image input / output data processing system, the user specifies the reading size at the time of reading by the image reading device, Alternatively,
By automatically setting the entire scanned document, even if the scanned document is skewed, by designating or detecting this inclination and correcting the skew while scanning, the scanning operation of the scanned document is prevented. Has become.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG.
1 shows an example of the configuration of an image input / output data processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 indicates an input / output data control device. Is mounted on a so-called host computer 2. Further, in this embodiment, for example, a color scanner 3 as a color image reading device for inputting image data and a color printer 4 as a color image printing device for outputting image data have the above-mentioned input / output data control. It is connected to the device 1. In the figure, reference numeral 5 indicates a color display which constitutes the host computer 2. Note that the image input / output data processing system according to the embodiments described in detail below is described as handling a so-called color image, but the present invention is not limited to this, and is applicable to, for example, monochrome image processing. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

In the configuration according to the embodiment of the present invention, the color scanner 3 for inputting the image data has, in the present embodiment, an image such as a photograph, for example, R (red), G (green). ) And B (blue) are read in 8 bits each and the read data are output. In addition, the normal color scanner 3 internally reads the above three colors of RGB with 10 bits each.
The bit data is converted into 8-bit data and output as 8-bit data. Although only a color scanner will be described here as a color image reading device, the present invention is not limited to this, and 8-bit RGB image data or color image data similar thereto can be used. It goes without saying that this is used if it outputs. Also, for example, CDR
It may be 8-bit RGB image data from a device such as an OM.

A color display 5 which constitutes the host computer 2 together with the input / output data control device 1 is also provided.
Receives 8-bit RGB data and displays, for example, a color original created by a word processor or the like, an image read by the color scanner 3, or the like. Further, in the present embodiment, the color printer 4 constituting the color image printing apparatus receives binary data in the order of K (black), C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow), and according to this, It is configured to perform color printing by performing frame-sequential overlapping printing.

FIG. 3 shows a bus connection diagram on the host computer 2. As is apparent from the figure, the components other than the input / output data control device 1 are generally included in a computer. For example, in the figure, the video board 6 stores data to be displayed in the VRAM 7, generates a video signal, and displays an image on the color display 5. The hard disk 8 constitutes an inexpensive large capacity memory. Further, the CPU 9 and the software operation memory 10 operate the host computer 2, and the image data memory 11 constitutes a memory for storing an original created by a word processor or the like and an image.

FIG. 1 shows a functional block configuration of the input / output data control device 1 which is a feature of the present invention. First, the scanner interface 12 transmits a command which is an instruction to the color scanner 3 and receives a status indicating the state (condition) of the apparatus, and at the same time, reads image data (8-bit data of 8 bits) from the color scanner 3. RGB data) is received. Printer data processing unit 1
Reference numeral 3 performs color conversion (RGB-CMYK conversion) on the received image read data for a color printer, and further performs gamma correction and gradation processing (binarization) to create print data. That is, the printer data processing unit 13 converts the 8-bit RGB data into CMYK binary data (RGB-CMYK conversion). The print data storage memory 14 stores the converted binary data, the computer interface 15 is connected to the host computer 2 and the display data processing unit 1 is connected.
6 receives the above-mentioned binarized print data and converts it into display data. Further, the printer interface 17 sends the print data to the color printer 4,
Print processing is performed accordingly.

Then, the printer data processing section 13
Generated CMYK after RGB-CMYK conversion in
The print data, which is the binary data of K, is temporarily stored in the print data storage memory 14 or, via the computer interface 15, the image data memory 11 on the host computer 2 shown in FIG. It is stored in the hard disk 8.

As described above, according to the present invention, for example, the image reading data (8-bit RGB data) input from the color scanner 3 is converted into the printer data processing unit 1 described above.
3, the RGB-CMYK conversion already known is converted into data for a color printer, and after gamma correction, binarization is performed by so-called gradation processing, whereby the captured image data is converted. It is intended to reduce the size and save memory. This is, for example, 3 planes of color RGB, and each plane is 2 of 8 bits.
When captured with 56 gradations and a resolution of 600 dpi (dot per inch), the image data reaches 108 MBytes for one sheet of A4 size paper. This is, for example, JPEG
Although it is possible to considerably compress this by compressing it with an image compression technique such as, it is impossible to completely restore the original image using a method with a high compression rate such as JPEG, and it was restored. When I print an image, I cannot restore it neatly.

On the other hand, by using binary print data as in the present invention, it is possible to reduce from 256 gradations to 2 gradations, that is, the data amount to 1/8 (1/8). It becomes possible to use 108 MByte with one sheet of A4 size paper.
It is possible to compress s to approximately 14 MBytes. Further, the data thus converted into binary print data can be easily restored and reproduced as a color image for display by a restoration method which will be described later in detail.

As described above, according to the present invention, the input image data (256 gradations of 8 bits) is converted into binary print data, and a gradation processing method is used for this conversion. As the gradation processing method, a dither method, an error diffusion method, etc. are generally used. In the present embodiment, the dither method among the above gradation processing methods is used, which will be described in detail below. However, the present invention
It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to such a dither method, and an error diffusion method that is another gradation processing method or another method can be used.

As this dither method, a dither method in which a screen angle is added to each color is used, as is commonly used in color printers. In the dither method, in order to increase the number of gradations, a plurality of sub-blocks are combined to form one gradation block. Here, four sub blocks are used. Schematic diagrams of the gradation blocks of each color are shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. FIG. 4A shows K (black),
The Y (yellow) dither pattern is shown in FIG.
(Cyan) and M (magenta) dither patterns are shown. In these schematic diagrams, the threshold value increases in the direction of the arrow from the center, and the threshold values are inclined in the order of blocks 0, 1, 2, and 3. As a result, FIG.
In the K, Y dither pattern of (a), a block of 16 × 4 = 64 provides 64 gradation expression, and C of FIG.
In the M dither pattern, 80 gradations are represented by 20 × 4 = 80 blocks. Therefore, in the present invention, the read color image (256 gradations of 8 bits) is subjected to the above-mentioned color conversion (RGB-CMYK conversion) and gamma correction, and then each threshold value of each gradation block shown in FIG. By setting "0" or "1" depending on whether or not
It can be value data.

If the reading resolution of the color scanner 3 for reading an image is equal to or higher than the print dot density of the color printer 4 for printing and outputting the image, the above-mentioned threshold value is simply 1: 1 to that of the color printer 4. You can correspond. On the other hand, if the reading resolution of the color scanner 3 is equal to or less than the print dot density of the color printer 4, it may be necessary to enlarge it at the time of printing. Enlarge operation is performed when converting. As a specific method of this enlarging operation, for example, a method of enlarging a read image and then binarizing it by a dither method, or a method of binarizing using a density pattern method or a multivalued dither method is possible. Is.

As described above, according to the present invention, the image data read by the color scanner 3 and input is converted into binary data for printing and stored in various memory devices. The image data converted into the binary data for printing is processed by the display data processing unit 16 to be normal color image data (256 gradations of 8 bits).
And is displayed on the display 5 or the like of the host computer 2.

That is, the display data processing unit 16 receives the binarized print data from the print data storage memory 14 for storing the binarized image data or the hard disk 8 and receives it. After being converted into display data, the display data is sent to the video board 6 on the host computer 2 via the computer interface 15 and displayed on the display 5. Although various methods have been proposed for the method of converting the binarized print data into the display data, here, as an example thereof, the binarized information in the print data processing unit is used as a basis. The method of estimating the original image will be described below.

First, according to the dither pattern for each color (C, M, Y, K), the dither pattern is applied to the binarized image, the dot area ratio in each sub-block is obtained, and the coefficient by weighting between sub-blocks is calculated. Multiply by
The gradation value of one pixel is calculated. That is, here, the area of the sub block is Sw, and the dot area in the sub block is Sa.
Further, the number of gradations is N, the order of weighting is i, and the gradation value P of one pixel is obtained by the following equation. P = 255 · Sa / Sw · {1- (3-i) / N}

By the way, the K and Y pixels of each color (K, C, M and Y) of the binary print data are arranged in the horizontal and vertical directions. However, the C and M pixels are
As shown in FIG. 5, they are arranged in the screen angle direction. Therefore, in order to rearrange these in the horizontal and vertical directions, a new horizontal and vertical direction pixel is calculated from the position of the pixel after the screen angle correction in the square composed of four peripheral pixels by the so-called four-point averaging method. Obtain the gradation value. For example, 6
With a dot density of 00 pi, assuming a pixel of 4 × 4 = 16 sub-blocks, a pixel density of 150 dpi. Since the color display usually has a pixel density of 72 to 75 dpi, four pixels are further averaged, and the display data is calculated from the pixel value of each color (K, C, M, Y) of the binarized printing data. Then, the pixel values of R, G, and B are calculated. In the above conversion step, four pixels may be averaged after conversion into R, G, and B.

Further, since the display color of the RGB signal obtained by the conversion from the above binary print data to the display data is usually not the color when printed by the color printer 4, it is necessary to perform color correction. There is. However,
Since the color when the binarized print data is printed by the color printer 4 is known in advance from the color characteristics of the color printer 4, the color correction coefficient is determined so that the print color and the display color are close to each other. Color correction may be performed using this color correction coefficient.

In the above description, a method of converting display data, which is an image input, into binary print data, or obtaining display data from the converted binary print data has been described. The processing or handling of such data in the configuration of the image input / output data processing system will be described below.

As described above, in the image input / output data processing system of the present invention, the image input by the image reading device such as the color scanner, that is, the display data is the printer of the input / output data control device 1. The conversion data processing unit 13 converts the conversion data into binary printing data and stores it in a necessary memory device, and the display data processing unit 16 again converts the conversion data into binary data.
It will be converted into display data. The display data converted by the display data processing unit 16 is transferred via the computer interface 15 shown in FIG.
It is sent to the host computer 2 shown in FIG.

On the host computer 2, the display data sent via the computer interface 15 is, for example, edited independently or on an original created by a word processor on the host computer 2, that is, It is directly or enlarged / reduced and placed in the document created by the word processor displayed on the display 5. That is, on the display 5, the read image, which is the display data, is enlarged / reduced and stuck at a predetermined position. Then, in the image input / output data processing system of the present invention, the editing information in the editing work is sent to the input / output data control device 1 mounted on the host computer 2, where the read image and the original created by the word processor or the like are written. It is used as control information when synthesizing the binarized print data in the print data storage memory 14.

For example, when a user requests the host computer 2 to print a document incorporating a read image, the document created by a word processor or the like is converted into binary print data on the host computer 2, and input / output data control is performed. Sent to device 1. Then, the binarized read image is enlarged / reduced according to the above-mentioned editing information, and is embedded in a predetermined position of a document created by a word processor or the like. Several methods have already been proposed for enlarging / reducing the binarized read image, and any one of them may be used. As an example of the method for enlarging / reducing the binarized read image, simply, the binary image may be smoothed and linearly interpolated or averaged. In addition, for example, in the "Conversion Method for Pseudo Halftone Images" of the 1992 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Image Electronics Engineers of Japan, a scaling method with little image quality deterioration is shown, and this can also be used. is there.

Thereafter, the print data storage memory 1 described above is used.
If the binary data for printing is aligned on the printer 4, the print data is sent to the color printer 4 via the printer interface 17.
To perform print processing. If a plurality of print sheets are designated, the binary print data in the print data storage memory 14 may be sent to the color printer 4 again. The print data storage memory 14 that constitutes the input / output data control device 1 may be further provided with a compression / expansion unit, which further increases the memory capacity required for storing captured image data. The effect that it can be further compressed and reduced can be expected.

Next, the operation of the image input / output data processing system of the present invention, which has been described in detail above, in particular, the input / output data control device 1 will be described. In addition,
As this operation, there are two modes of "with preview operation" and "without preview operation" for confirming the image state before image reading.

First, the operation in the case of "with preview operation" will be described according to the flow of FIG. The user uses the scanner driver for driving the scanner, which is the image input device incorporated in the system, or the plug-in software that achieves other attached functions, and determines the brightness and gamma curve of the color scanner 3 and the reading resolution. Set (step 100). At this time, it is desirable to set the reading resolution to a value equal to or higher than the dot density of the color printer 4. When the color scanner 3 and the color printer 4 are used in conjunction with each other, this value is automatically read according to the setting value of enlargement / reduction, and this reading resolution is set. On the other hand, when the resolution of the color scanner is lower than the dot density of the color printer 4, resolution conversion operation, that is, enlargement operation is performed in the subsequent binarization processing. These set values are sent to the color scanner 3 via the input / output data control device 1.

Then, the user presses the preview button on the screen of the display 5 to start the preview operation of the color scanner 3 (step 110). As a result, the image data in which the input image is roughly captured is displayed on the display 5, and if the set brightness or gamma value is inappropriate, the user again sets it.

Next, the user uses a mouse or the like to specify the portion (reading area) of the read image to be cut out with a selection tool or the like (step 120). The cutout state of the read image at this time is shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 7A, when a document to be read (read document region 501) is read while being arranged obliquely with respect to a rectangular reading region (region 502) by the scanner 3, it is usually a scanner driver. As shown in FIG. 7B, for example, one corner (point 505 in the figure) of the designated area (reading area 503) is designated by using the tilt correction function attached to, and as shown by an arrow in the figure. Then, the rectangular broken line frame (that is, the reading area 503) is rotated. That is, coordinate conversion is performed.

After that, based on the selected area (that is, the reading area 503) and the diagonal angle at this time, the image is read at the set predetermined resolution, that is, the so-called actual image reading is performed (step 130). At this time,
At the time of reading, it is natural to read the original by correcting the inclination of the original, which makes it unnecessary to replace the original. Further, as the tilt correction method, for example, so-called affine transformation, which is performed by multiplying by a matrix that performs a rotation operation, is used.

Subsequently, the image data (usually 8-bit RGB data) read as described above is converted into 2 by the printer data processing unit 13 of the input / output data control device 1 by the conversion method described above. The value is converted into print data and stored in the print data storage memory 14 (step 140). At this time, there may be a plurality of read originals on the color scanner 3, and in that case, each area may be designated and read. The display of the read image is close to the print color.
That is, the color when the binarized print data is printed by the color printer 4 is known in advance from the color characteristics of the color printer 4, and therefore the color of the image read by the color scanner 3 is corrected.

Then, it is converted into the binary print data,
The color-corrected image data is converted into display data by the display data processing unit 16 and displayed on the display 5 of the host computer 2 (step 150). At this time, the image data read from the color scanner 3 (8-bit RGB data) is sent directly to the host computer 2 without being converted into binary print data,
It is also possible to display it on the display 5.

Thereafter, editing is performed, for example, an original created by a word processor or the like is spread on the display 5, and the read image display data (8-bit RGB data) is sent to the display 5 to display the read image. Enlargement and reduction are performed at the embedding position of the widened original, and embedding is performed. The embedding position and the enlargement / reduction rate of the image obtained by the editing operation such as the original embedding work, and the cutting position information if there is a cutting operation, etc. Is sent to the input / output data control device 1 as edit information (step 16).
0).

When there is a print command, the original created by a word processor or the like is converted into binary print data on the host computer 2 and stored in the print data storage memory 14 of the input / output data controller 1. Sent (step 17)
0). At this time, the read image data already binarized in the above step is enlarged / reduced in the print data storage memory 14 in accordance with the editing information and embedded in a predetermined position of the original created by a word processor or the like. Then, composition is performed on the print data storage memory 14 (step 180). As a method of this composition, it is possible to overlay the read image with a document created by a word processor or the like. As a result, the added character line drawing can be printed on the read image. Then, finally, the combined print data is output to the color printer 4, which is a printing device, via the printer interface 17 of the input / output data control device 1 to perform printing (step 190).

Next, FIG. 8 shows the operation when there is no preview operation. First, the user sets the brightness, gamma curve and reading resolution of the color scanner 3 using the scanner driver or plug-in software (step 200). At this time, it is desirable to set the reading resolution to a value equal to or higher than the dot density of the color printer 4. When the color scanner 3 and the color printer 4 are used in conjunction with each other, this value is automatically read according to the setting value of enlargement / reduction, and this reading resolution is set. On the other hand, the resolution of the color scanner is the color printer 4
If it is lower than the dot density of, the resolution conversion operation, that is, the enlargement operation is performed in the subsequent binarization processing. These set values are sent to the color scanner 3 via the input / output data control device 1.

Then, by pressing the read button on the display screen, the color scanner 3 starts reading (step 210). Then, the size and inclination of the read image are detected and judged by looking at the edge of the read image, and the reading is performed while correcting the skew (step 220). For example, it is possible to know the read document area and the tilt angle of the document by looking at the place where the brightness changes linearly. Although various methods have already been proposed for this edge detection method, the tilt angle can be known by performing a differential operation and regarding the outermost edge as the edge of the document. Also,
The inclination of the original can be determined by detecting the upper edge of the original using the data at the beginning of reading or by detecting the left edge of the original and finding the inclination angle from the inclination from the reading direction. As a result, if the original is skewed, the original can be read while correcting the inclination at the time of reading, and it is not necessary to reset the original.

Subsequently, read data read by the color scanner 3 (usually 8-bit RGB data)
Is binarized by the printer data processing unit 13, and is binarized by the print data storage memory 14 of the input / output data control device 1.
(Step 230). Then, the binarized print data is converted into display data (8-bit RGB data).
It is converted into data) and displayed on the display 5 (step 240). At this time, instead of using the binarized data, converting it into display data in the display data processing unit 16 and displaying it on the display 5, the read data (8 Bit RGB data) directly to the host computer 2
However, in this case, since the color display has a pixel density of 72 to 75 dpi, which is lower than the reading density of the color scanner 3, in this case, the color scanner 3 The read read image may be displayed by thinning out the read image from the color scanner 3, correcting the color, and displaying the corrected data.

Next, the original created by a word processor is spread, the display data of the read image is sent to the display 5, the read image displayed is brought to the embedding position of the original, cut out, and enlarged / reduced. Embedding and editing are performed, and the cutout area, enlargement / reduction ratio, and embedding position of the read image obtained by such document embedding work are sent to the input / output data control device as edit information (step 250).

Therefore, when there is a print command, an original created by a word processor or the like is converted into binary print data on the host computer 2 and sent to the print data storage memory 14 of the input / output data control device 1. , Are stored there (step 260). Further, according to the above-mentioned editing information, the data is cut out, enlarged / reduced, embedded in a predetermined position of a document created by a word processor or the like, and embedded in the print data storage memory 1.
4 are combined (step 270). Finally, the data is output to the color printer 4 through the printer interface 17 and printing is performed (step 280).

As described above, according to the image input / output data processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention described in detail above,
A scanned image is read in high definition with a scanner (for example, 8-bit RGB data), and binary print data is created based on this, so large-capacity reading is performed regardless of the high-definition read image. There is an effect that a memory for images is not required and a data transfer amount is reduced.
In other words, since the image is read at the dot density of the printer or higher and the print data is created, a high-definition image can be printed.

Further, in addition to the image input / output data processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention described in detail above,
An image input / output data processing system according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

First, FIG. 9 shows an input / output data control device 1A in an image input / output data processing system according to another embodiment of the present invention. This input / output data control device 1A
The configuration of is similar to that of the input / output data control device 1 shown in FIG.
8 is provided. According to the input / output data control device 1A having such a configuration, the data expanded into binary print data on the host computer 2 is input / output data control device 1
It can be sent to A, and can be output to the color printer 4 through the printer interface 17 while being combined with the binarized read image by the print data combining unit 18. That is, according to the configuration of the input / output data control device 1A according to the other embodiment, instead of the host computer 2 performing the combining processing to generate the print image in the print data storage memory 14, the print image Since the print data combining unit 18 performs the combination, the processing in the host computer 2 is reduced, and high-speed print data combining processing is realized.

Further, FIG. 10 shows the input / output data control device 1 shown in FIG.
Is provided. According to the input / output data control device 1B having such a configuration, the code data, which is an original created by a word processor or the like, is not expanded into print data on the host computer 2, but is expanded within the input / output data control device 1B. As a result, the processing of the host computer 2 can be reduced and high-speed print data composition processing can be realized.

Input / output data controller 1C shown in FIG.
In the above-mentioned input / output data control device 1 shown in FIG. 1, the print data synthesizing section 18 is provided and a code expansion processing section 19 is further provided. According to the configuration of the input / output data control device 1C, a document created by a word processor or the like is developed in the code development processing unit 19 of the input / output data control device, and at the same time, the print data composition unit 18
Output to the color printer 4 via the printer interface 17 while combining with the binarized read image,
It becomes possible to perform printing, which also reduces the processing of the host computer 2 and realizes high-speed print data composition processing.

In the input / output data control device 1D shown in FIG. 12, the input / output data control device 1 shown in FIG.
The display data processing unit 16 is removed from the printer, and the read image is directly printed. Note that, in the various embodiments described above, the direct printing operation may be included as in this embodiment. That is, in the input / output data control device 1D according to this embodiment, when a copy command is issued, the color scanner 3 performs a reading operation, and read data (8-bit RGB data).
To the input / output data control device 1D. The read data is converted into binary print data by the printer data processing unit 13, then temporarily stored in the print data storage memory 14, and immediately output to the color printer 4 via the printer interface 17. . Further, the binarized data in the print data storage memory 14 is sent to the host computer 2 via the computer interface 15,
It may be transmitted as a facsimile original, and it is also possible to allow the scanner interface 12 to enlarge / reduce the captured image. In that case,
The enlargement / reduction processing is performed by the scanner 3 or this device 1D.
Any of the above may be used.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the internal operation of the printer data processing unit 13 which constitutes the input / output data control device described variously with reference to FIGS. 1 and 9 to 12.
A so-called operation block diagram including the color scanner 3 and the color printer 4 is shown. In this figure, the read image (8-bit RGB data) read by the color scanner 3 and input through the scanner interface 12 is intermediately displayed between the character line drawing area and the character line drawing area in the image area separation unit 20 of the printer data processing unit 13. It is identified in the toned image area. Then, the character / line-drawing area is binarized by the character / line-drawing binarization unit 21, and the halftone image area is binarized by the halftone-image binarization unit 22 by an optimum method. The image binarized by each of these methods is then
It is combined by the binarized image combining unit 23 and stored in the print data storage memory 14. Here, the read setting and the copy command may be made from the operation panel 24 of the color scanner 3.

Now, the copy operation using the operation panel 24 will be described with reference to the flow of FIG. First, it is confirmed whether the color printer 4 is on standby (step 300). As a result, when the color printer 4 is in the standby state, the original is set on the color scanner 3 and the reading brightness, the gamma curve, the number of copies, the enlargement / reduction ratio, etc. are set (step 310).
At this time, if the default state of the initial settings is acceptable, it is natural that these settings need not be performed.

Next, a copy start signal is generated to instruct copying (image reading by the color scanner 3) (step 320). As a result, the color scanner 3
Performs a reading operation, and the read image data (8-bit RGB data) is read by the scanner interface 12
Is sent to the printer data processing unit 13 via
Here, the binarization processing already described in detail above is performed and converted into print data (step 330). If the enlargement / reduction ratio is set, the enlargement / reduction operation of the binary image is further performed to create the print data.

Then, the binarized print data is
The data is temporarily stored in the print data storage memory 14 (step 340). Then, if this print data is on standby, it is sent to the color printer 4 via the printer interface 17 to perform printing (step 350).

Thus, in particular, the above-mentioned FIG. 13 and FIG.
According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the image data read by the color scanner 3 is binarized via the printer data processing unit 13 which constitutes the above various input / output data control devices, and is transferred to the color printer 4. By doing so, the color scanner 3 and the color printer 4 connected to the host computer 2 constituting the image input / output data processing system of the present invention can be operated as a high speed copying machine.

Further, in FIG. 15, in place of the configuration of the image input / output data processing system shown in FIG. 2, the input / output data control device is installed outside the host computer 2 to show the image input / output data processing system. The configuration is shown. In addition,
The input / output data control device 1000 of the image input / output data processing system having such a configuration preferably has a controller therein so that the data control can be performed without the host computer 2 whose internal configuration is shown in FIG. FIG. 16 shows an example of the internal configuration of the input / output data control device 1000.

As is clear from FIG. 16, this input / output data control device 1000 is a processing unit C.
A PU 1001 and a memory 1002 as a data storage device for storing software for operating the device and data required for processing are provided. Further, this input / output data control device 1000 is connected to a host interface (host I / F) 1003 for connecting to the host computer 2 as shown in FIG. Scanner interface (scanner / F) 100
4. Printer interface (printer I / F) 100
5 is provided. The host interface 1003
Sends, for example, a scanner control signal or a printer control signal output from the host computer 2 to a color scanner or a color printer, and inputs / outputs input / output data with the color scanner or the color printer. Further, the scanner interface 1004 transmits a command, which is an instruction to the color scanner 3, and receives a status indicating the state (condition) of the apparatus, and at the same time, reads image data (8-bit RG from the color scanner).
B data) is received. Printer interface 100
Reference numeral 5 sends print data to a color printer to perform print processing.

Further, this input / output data control device 1000
Has a display data processing unit 1006 and a printer data processing unit 1007 inside. The display data processing unit 1006 receives the binarized print data, converts it into display data, and the printer data processing unit 1007 described above receives the image read data from the color scanner 3 ( 8-bit RGB data), and the received image reading data is subjected to color conversion for a color printer (RGB-CMYK conversion),
Gamma correction and gradation processing (binarization) are performed to create print data. Further, the input / output data control device 10
A combination processing unit 1008 is provided inside 00, and the combination of the print images is performed by this combination processing unit.

Thus, this input / output data control device 1
000 is a CPU 100 which is an arithmetic processing unit inside thereof.
15 is provided, it is possible to connect to the host computer 2 via the host interface (host I / F) 1003 as shown in FIG. 15 and edit a read image without the host computer 2. And can be printed.

[0065]

As is apparent from the above detailed description, according to the image input / output data processing system and its processing method of the present invention, and further the input / output data control device in such a system, a read image is processed. Even if the image is read in high definition, it is converted into binary print data and the processing work including saving is performed. Therefore, the data amount is greatly reduced as compared with the image data that is the conventional processing target, and thus, a large amount is obtained. This is extremely technically excellent in that it is possible to perform processing such as printing with a high-definition image without requiring a memory for reading images of a large capacity.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing a detailed internal configuration of an input / output data control device of an image input / output data processing system which is a feature of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of an image input / output data processing system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram illustrating a host computer and its peripheral devices that constitute the image input / output data processing system.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the input / output data control device of FIG.
It is a principle explanatory view explaining a binarization gradation processing method.

5 is a principle explanatory diagram illustrating a method of correcting a pixel arrangement with a screen angle in a horizontal and vertical direction, which is implemented by the input / output data control device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart diagram for explaining a reading operation when there is a preview operation in the image input / output data processing system.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the image input / output data processing system,
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a tilt designation operation of a reading area of a tilted document.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a reading operation in the image input / output data processing system without a preview operation.

9 is a circuit block diagram showing a configuration of the input / output control device shown in FIG. 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a circuit block diagram showing a configuration of yet another embodiment of the input / output control device.

FIG. 11 is a circuit block diagram showing a configuration of the input / output control device according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a circuit block diagram showing an internal configuration of still another embodiment of the present invention of the input / output control device.

FIG. 13 is an operation block diagram illustrating an internal operation of a printer data processing unit in the input / output control device.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating data processing of a printer data processing unit in the input / output control device.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a system configuration according to another embodiment of the present invention in which the input / output data control device is installed outside a host computer.

16 is a circuit block diagram showing an internal configuration of an example of the input / output data control device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D Input / output data controller 2 Host computer 3 Color scanner 4 Color printer 5 Display 6 Video board 7 VRAM 8 Hard disk 9 CPU 10 Software operation memory 11 Image data memory 12 Scanner interface 13 Printer data Processing unit 14 Print data storage memory 15 Computer interface 16 Display data processing unit 17 Printer interface 18 Print data combining unit 19 Code data expansion processing unit 20 Image area separation 21 Character line drawing binarization 22 Halftone image binarization 23 Binary Image synthesis 24 Operation panel

Claims (24)

[Claims] 1. An image input / output data processing method for storing image data at least temporarily, processing the input image data, and outputting the processed image data, wherein the input image data is converted into binary data for printing. Then, the image input / output data processing method is characterized in that the image data converted into the binary data for printing is stored. 2. The image input / output data processing method according to claim 1, wherein the conversion of the image data into the binary data for printing is performed by using a gradation processing method. Input / output data processing method. 3. The image input / output data processing method according to claim 2, wherein the gradation processing method is performed by using a dither method or a density pattern method with a screen angle for each color. Image input / output data processing method. 4. The image input / output data processing method according to claim 1, wherein the conversion of the image data into the binary data for printing is performed by separating the input image data into image areas and separating the image areas. An image input / output data processing method, which is performed for each image data in the image area. 5. The image input / output data processing method according to claim 4, wherein the image area separation of the image data is performed between a character line drawing portion and a halftone image portion. Data processing method. 6. The image input / output data processing method according to claim 1, further comprising image enlargement / reduction processing.
An image input / output data processing method, which is performed using the image data converted into the binary data for printing. 7. The image input / output data processing method according to claim 1, further comprising converting the image data converted into the binary data for printing into multi-valued display image data and displaying the image data. A method for processing image input / output data, which is characterized by outputting for the purpose of 8. The image input / output data processing method according to claim 7, wherein the conversion from the binary data for printing to the multi-valued display image data is performed based on a gradation processing method.
The dot area for each block is obtained in the screen angle direction of each color to obtain the gradation value of the pixel, and then the screen angle is corrected to arrange the pixels in the horizontal and vertical directions to obtain the multi-valued display image data. Image input / output data processing method. 9. An image input / output data processing system, which stores image data at least temporarily, processes the input image data and outputs the image data, comprising image data input means for inputting the image data. The image forming apparatus further comprises a processing unit for processing the image data from the image data inputting unit and a storing unit for temporarily storing the image data, and the storing unit prints the image data for storing. An image input / output data processing system, wherein the image input / output data processing system is configured to be performed by image data converted into binary data for use. 10. The image input / output data processing system according to claim 9, wherein the processing means includes a conversion means for converting the image data input by the image data input means into binary data for printing. An image input / output data processing system characterized in that 11. The image input / output data processing system according to claim 9, further comprising a printer capable of printing with the image read data converted into the binary data for printing. Image input / output data processing system characterized by. 12. The image input / output data processing system according to claim 9, wherein the processing means includes at least a display capable of displaying the image data input by the image data input means. Characteristic image input / output data processing system. 13. The image input / output data processing system according to claim 12, wherein the processing means includes a host computer having a processing function capable of editing including the image data. Input / output data processing system. 14. The image input / output data processing system according to claim 13, wherein the host computer includes at least a processing device capable of enlarging / reducing the image data. Input / output data processing system. 15. The image input / output data processing system according to claim 9, wherein the processing means includes at least a processing device capable of enlarging / reducing the image data. Input / output data processing system. 16. An input / output data control device in an image input / output data processing system, which stores image data at least temporarily, processes the input image data, and outputs the processed image data, the input unit inputting the image data. A printer data processing unit for converting the image data input from the input unit into binary data for printing, and an input / output unit with the outside, and thus, via the input / output unit with the outside An input / output data control device, wherein the image data converted into binary data for printing by the printer data processing unit can be output to the outside for storing the image data. 17. The input / output data control device according to claim 16, further comprising a print data storage memory for storing the image data converted into binary data for printing by the printer data conversion processing unit. An input / output data control device comprising: 18. The input / output data control device according to claim 17, wherein the print data storage memory further includes a compression / expansion unit. 19. The input / output data control device according to claim 17, wherein the print data storage memory further stores binary data for printing input from the outside via the input / output unit with the outside. An input / output data control device characterized in that it is also configured to store. 20. The input / output data control device according to claim 16, further comprising an output unit for connecting a printer, through which the printer data processing unit prints data for printing. An input / output data control device characterized in that the image data converted into value data can be output. 21. The input / output data control device according to claim 16, further comprising a display data processing unit that converts the image data converted into the binary data into display data that can be displayed on a display. And an input / output unit configured to output the display data converted by the display data processing unit and displayable on the display via the input / output unit with the outside. Data controller. 22. The input / output data control device according to claim 16, wherein the binary data for printing input via the input / output unit with the outside is converted by the printer data processing unit. An input / output data control device comprising a print data synthesizing unit for synthesizing the binary data for printing. 23. The claim 16 or the claim 22.
In the input / output data control device described in (1), the input / output data control device further includes a code expansion processing unit that expands code data input via the external input / output unit to the binary data for printing. I / O data controller. 24. The input / output data control device according to claim 16, wherein the printer data processing section is separated by the image area separation section for separating the input image data into image areas and the image area separation section. Multiple 2's that binarize image data
An input / output data control device comprising a binarizing unit and a synthesizing unit for synthesizing the data binarized by these binarizing units.