JPH09186852A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To speedily decide whether an image is a color image or black-and- white image by pages or areas by providing a dividing means, a decision means, a holding means, and an output control means. SOLUTION: Image data read by an image input device 21 are divided by an IPS-CPU part (dividing means) 2 into plural pages or areas and an ACS part (decision means) decides whether the document image is a color image or black-and-white image by the pages or areas. According to the decision result, a PS-CPU part (output control means) outputs color images or black-and- white images by an image output device by the pages or areas. Therefore, even if color images and black-and-white images are mixed as document images, they can be outputted as color images or black-and-white images by the pages or areas. Consequently, color output is not performed for an area where a black-and-white image is drawn to save a developer and shorten a development time as a result.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus mounted on a copying machine or the like for performing image processing necessary for copying an image, and more particularly to a color / black and white automatic discrimination function (hereinafter referred to as ACS).
The present invention relates to an image processing device having an (Auto Color Separator) function).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the widespread use of color copying, many image processing apparatuses mounted on copying machines and the like have an ACS function. The ACS function is a function that automatically determines whether an image to be subjected to image processing is a color image or a monochrome image. Therefore, in a copying machine equipped with an image processing apparatus having an ACS function, an image drawn on a document (hereinafter referred to as a document image)
If the original image is a color image, the image data read from the original image is output in color on a recording medium (for example, recording paper), while if the original image is a monochrome image, the image data read from the original image is recorded on the recording paper. It is designed to output in black and white.

An image processing apparatus mounted on a copying machine or the like is compatible with page continuous copying or enlarged continuous copying, that is, a page, in order to cope with further multifunctionalization of the copying machine or the like. Some perform image processing required for continuous copying or enlarged continuous copying. In order to enable efficient copying, page continuous copying is such that when there are two pages of original images such as a spread book, image data is read from these original images in one scan,
This is a copying method in which the image data is output on recording paper for each page. Enlarged continuous copying is to divide image data read from a document image into a plurality of areas and to enlarge and record the divided image data for each area in order to obtain an image larger than the size of one recording sheet. This is a copying method for outputting on paper.

[0004]

By the way, the conventional AC
The image processing apparatus having the S function can obtain only one result (one of a color image and a monochrome image) for one scan as to whether the image is a color image or a monochrome image. Therefore, even if the image processing apparatus having the ACS function further has a function corresponding to continuous page copying, the image processing apparatus reads both pages of the spread book in one scan, so that one page is a color image. Therefore, when the other pages are black and white images, both pages are determined to be color images. Therefore, in a copying machine equipped with such an image processing device,
YMCK (Ye
llow; yellow, Magenta; magenta, Cyan; cyan,
There is a possibility that color output will be performed using four color developers of black; as a result, problems such as consumption of the developer and increase in development time occur. This also applies to the case of supporting expanded continuous copying.

Therefore, for example, when page continuous copying is supported, it is conceivable to scan each page of a two-page spread separately so that each page can be scanned. To do this, scanning must be repeated, and as a result, it takes a lot of time, and the original purpose of continuous page copying cannot be achieved. This also applies to the case where the enlarged continuous shooting copy is supported.

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention provides an image processing apparatus having an ACS function for each page or each page even if it supports page continuous copy or enlarged continuous copy. It is an object of the present invention to be able to quickly discriminate between a color image and a monochrome image for each area.

[0007]

The present invention has been devised to achieve the above object. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 is an image input apparatus for reading image data from a document image, and an image input apparatus therefor. The image input device is connected to an image output device that outputs image data as a visible image, and further, when the image input device reads image data of a plurality of pages from a document image by one-time reading, Dividing means for dividing the image data into pages, and judging means for judging whether each page of the original image is a color image or a monochrome image from the image data divided by the dividing means, Holding means for holding the discrimination result by the discriminating means for each page in the plurality of pages, and each page of the image data based on the discrimination result held by the holding means. Characterized in that it comprises an output control means for instructing whether to output as or monochrome image output as color image on the image output apparatus.

According to the structure of the image processing apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the image input apparatus reads the original image from the original image, as in the case of reading image data from both pages of a spread book and performing page continuous copying. When the image data of a plurality of pages is read by one reading, the dividing unit divides the read image data of a plurality of pages into each page. When the dividing means divides the image data into pages,
The discriminating means discriminates from the divided image data whether each page of the original image is a color image or a monochrome image, and the retaining means retains the discrimination result for each page in the plurality of pages. To do. Then, the output control means instructs the image output device whether to output each page of the image data read by the image input device as a color image or a monochrome image based on the determination result held by the holding device. Give instructions. Therefore, in this image processing apparatus, for example, even if a page of a color image and a page of a monochrome image are mixed in the original image, it is possible to output a color image or a monochrome image for each page by the image output apparatus. .

An image processing apparatus according to a second aspect is connected to an image input apparatus that reads image data from a document image and an image output apparatus that outputs the image data as a visible image. When the image input device reads image data from a document image, a dividing unit that divides the image data into a plurality of regions, and each region of the document image is colored from the image data divided by the dividing unit. A discrimination unit that discriminates whether the image is a monochrome image, a holding unit that holds the discrimination result of the discrimination unit for each of the plurality of regions, and a discrimination result that is held by the holding unit. Output control means for instructing the image output device whether to output each area of the image data as a color image or a monochrome image. The features.

According to the configuration of the image processing apparatus of the second aspect of the invention, when the image input apparatus reads the image data from the original image, for example, when performing the enlarged continuous copying, the dividing means reads the image data. The obtained image data is divided into a plurality of areas. When the dividing unit divides the image data into a plurality of regions, the determining unit determines from the divided image data whether each region of the original image is a color image or a monochrome image, and the holding unit further includes: The determination result is held for each area in the plurality of areas. Then, the output control means, based on the determination result held in the holding means,
The image output device is instructed whether to output each area of the image data read by the image input device as a color image or a monochrome image. Therefore, in this image processing apparatus, for example, even if a color image area and a monochrome image area are mixed in the original image, the image output apparatus can output each area as a color image or a monochrome image. .

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, here,
A case where the present invention is applied to an image processing apparatus mounted on a digital copying machine compatible with full color will be described.

FIG. 1 shows an image processing apparatus (Im
1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an age processing system; hereinafter referred to as IPS) 1 and a digital copying machine in which the IPS 1 is mounted. This digital copying machine is shown in FIG.
In addition to IPS1, as shown in FIG.
Input Terminal; hereinafter referred to as IIT) 21, Image Output Terminal (hereinafter referred to as IOT) 22, and user interface unit (User Interfa)
se; hereinafter referred to as U / I) 23 and System-CPU (Central
Processing Unit) 24 and.

The IIT 21 is composed of, for example, a scanner and reads image data from a document image.
In this IIT21, the IIT-CPU section 21a and
SCAN-MOTOR control section 21b and CCD (Charge Cou
pled device) part 21c, and IIT-CP
The SCAN-MOTOR control section 21b controls a SCAN-MOTOR (not shown) according to the control by the U section 21a, so that the CCD section 21c optically reads the image data for each successive line of the original image. I
The OT 22 is composed of, for example, a printer engine,
The image data read by the IIT 21 is output to a recording medium (recording paper or the like) as a visible image using electrophotography (electrostatic copying). However, the IOT 22 has a function of selecting an output mode (color output or monochrome output) according to an instruction from the System-CPU 24.

The U / I 23 is composed of, for example, an operation panel, and is used for setting conditions necessary for the user (user) of the digital copying machine to make a copy.
The settings made in the U / I 23 include, for example, settings for page continuous copying or enlarged continuous copying. System-CPU24 is IPS1, IIT21, IO
It is connected to T22 and U / I23 via a communication line 25, and controls each of these parts, that is, the entire digital copying machine.

I mounted on such a digital copying machine
The PS1 is composed of, for example, a microprocessor, and performs IO for the image data read by the IIT21.
Image processing required for outputting at T22 is performed by System-CPU
It is performed according to the instruction from 24. For example, U /
When the user designates page continuous copy or enlarged continuous copy in I23, the IPS 1 performs image processing required for the specified page continuous copy or enlarged continuous copy. Also, IPS1
Includes an IPS-CPU 2, an ACS unit 3, and a holding unit 4.

The IPS-CPU 2 controls the IPS 1 as a whole, and further has a function as a dividing means and an output control means of the present invention. That is, when the page continuous copy or the expanded continuous copy is designated, the IPS-CPU 2 outputs I according to the designated content.
The image data read by the IT 21 is divided for each page or each area, and the output mode for each divided page or each area is determined based on the determination result by the ACS function in the ACS unit 3 described later. The system-CPU 24 is notified. As a result, the System-CPU 24
The output mode is instructed to T22.

The ACS section 3 functions as a discriminating means of the present invention. From the image data divided by the IPS-CPU 2, each page or each area of the original image is either a color image or a monochrome image. It automatically determines whether or not. The holding unit 4 functions as a holding unit of the present invention, and holds the determination result of the ACS unit 3 for each page or each area.

Here, provided in this IPS1,
The functions for performing the image processing including the ACS function will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 2, the IPS 1 includes an IPS-CPU 2, an ACS unit 3, and a holding unit 4, an A / D converter 5, a shading correction unit 6, and a CCD gap correction unit 7. , A gray balance correction unit 8, an RGB → L ^* a ^* b ^* conversion unit 9, an external I / F unit 10, and an L ^* a ^* b ^* → YMCK conversion unit 11.
, Expansion / contraction unit 12, digital filter 13, Linear
A High γ conversion unit 14 and a Tone control unit 15 are provided.

According to the IPS1 having the above-mentioned components, the CCD unit 21c of the IIT 21 has RGB (Red, Green,
Image data read as a Blue signal is converted to A / D Conv
The ertor5 converts it into a digital signal. The image data converted into the digital signal is processed by the shading correction unit 6, CC
The D gap correction unit 7 and the gray balance correction unit 8 perform shading (color density) correction, CCD gap (color tone) correction, and gray balance (color balance) correction, respectively, and further RGB → L ^*. The a ^* b ^* conversion unit 9 converts the RGB color space into the L ^* a ^* b ^* (Elster, Aster, Bester) color space. The L ^* a ^* b ^* color space, that is, the L ^* a ^* b ^* color system is CIE (Commis).
It was presented by sion Internationale de l'Eclairage (International Lighting Commission) in 1976, and it expresses a color space by signals representing saturation, chromaticity, and hue.

The image data converted into the L ^* a ^* b ^* color space is subsequently input to the external I / F unit 10 and then AC
It is sent to both the S section 3 and the L ^* a ^* b ^* → YMCK conversion section 11. Upon receiving the image data converted into the L ^* a ^* b ^* color space, the ACS unit 3 determines from the image data whether each page or each area of the original image is a color image or a monochrome image. . However, ACS section 3
Then, according to the control from the IPS-CPU 2, it is determined whether to perform this determination for each page or for each area. At this time, the ACS unit 3 determines whether the text (characters or the like) and the image (photograph or the like) are separated (TI).
Separation determination) may be performed. And ACS
The determination result of the unit 3 is held by the holding unit 4.

On the other hand, L ^* a ^* b ^* → YMCK converter 11
Then, when the image data converted into the L ^* a ^* b ^* color space is received, the image data is converted into the YMCK color space. Then, the image data converted into the YMCK color space is subjected to reduction / enlargement processing as necessary in the reduction / enlargement unit 12,
The digital filter 13 performs processing such as boundary smoothing and edge enhancement. After that, Linear → High
In the γ conversion unit 14 and the Tone control unit 15,
When the correction processing for the difference between the text and the image, such as near → High γ processing and Tone control processing, is performed,
The image data is ROS (Raster Output Scanner) -I /
It is sent to the IOT 22 via F16.

Each of the above-mentioned units has its own IPS.
-It is connected to the CPU 2 via a bus so that the processing content, the processing state, and the like can be exchanged with the IPS-CPU 2. Therefore, IPS-C
When the image data is sent to the IOT 22, the PU 2 extracts the determination result of the ACS unit 3 held by the holding unit 4 for each page or each area, and
The System-CPU 24 is notified as an output mode instruction for the.

Next, an operation example in the case of performing continuous page copying using the digital copying machine equipped with the IPS 1 as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
However, here, as shown in FIG. 4, in the spread book 30 in which one page is an A4 size, a color image and a monochrome image are mixedly drawn on one page 31, and a monochrome image is displayed on the other page 32. An example will be described in which page continuous copying is performed on an item with "."

In the case of continuous page copying of such a double-page spread 30, as shown in FIG. 3, after both pages 31, 32 of the double-page spread 30 are set in the IIT 21, U
When the page continuous copy is designated by the user with / I23 (step 101, the following step is abbreviated as S), Sy
The stem-CPU 24 recognizes that continuous page copying is to be performed on the spread book 30, and notifies the IPS-CPU 2 of that fact via the communication line 25. When there is a notification from the System-CPU 24, the IPS-CPU 2 makes an A based on the notification.
The CS unit 3 is instructed about the ACS processing area, parameters and the like. Then, when the start switch of the U / I 23 is pressed, the IIT 21 causes both pages 31 and 3 of the spread book 30 to be pressed.
The prescan for 2 is performed (S102).

When the original images of both pages 31, 32 of the spread book 30 are read as image data by the pre-scanning by the IIT 21, the ACS section 3 receives the image data and also according to the instruction from the IPS-CPU 2, the spread book. It is determined for each page 31, 32 of 30 whether the original image is a color image or a monochrome image (S103). In the case of this operation example, a color image and a monochrome image are mixedly drawn on one page 31, and a black and white image is drawn on the other page 32. Color image, page 3 above
It is determined that 2 is a monochrome image. Then, when the ACS unit 3 determines the pages 31 and 32, the holding unit 4
Holds the determination result for each page 31, 32 (S104).

When the holding unit 4 holds the determination result by the pre-scan, the System-CPU 24 first performs the main scan for one page 31 and then another page 32 in order to perform continuous page copy of the spread book 30. To IIT21. At this time, the IPS-CPU 2 recognizes whether a color image or a black-and-white image is drawn on the page to be main-scanned, based on the determination result of the ACS unit 3 held by the holding unit 4. Yes (S105). For example, when performing a main scan on one page 31 of the spread book 30, it is recognized from the determination result held in the holding unit 4 that a color image is drawn on the one page 31. Further, when performing the main scan on the other page 32 of the spread book 30, it is recognized from the determination result held in the holding unit 4 that a black-and-white image is drawn on the other page 32.

When the IPS-CPU 2 recognizes the determination result for the page to be main scanned, the IPS
-The CPU 2 notifies the recognized result to the System-CPU 24. Then, the System-CPU 24, based on the notification, II
The T21, IOT22, and IPS1 units are instructed whether the output mode is color output or monochrome output. For example, when performing the main scan for one page 31 of the spread book 30, the System-CPU 24 sets the IIT2
The color output is instructed to each unit of 1, 1, IOT 22, and IPS 1 (S106). Then, the image data read from one page 31 of the spread book 30 is output as a color image on an A4 size recording sheet.

Further, for example, when performing the main scan for the other page 32 of the spread book 30, the System-CPU 24 instructs each of the IIT 21, IOT 22 and IPS 1 to perform monochrome output (S107). Then, the image data read from the other page 32 of the spread book 30 is output as a monochrome image on an A4 size recording sheet. That is, the IIT2 is recognized by the recognition by the IPS-CPU2.
The optimum output mode is obtained in each unit of 1, 1, IOT 22, and IPS1.

When the output mode instruction to the IIT21, IOT22, and IPS1 units is completed, the next
The em-CPU 24 determines whether or not the main scan and output of all the pages that have been prescanned, that is, both pages 31 and 32 of the spread book 30 have been completed (S108). Then, if there is a page that has not been completed, the above steps (S105 to S
108) is repeated. In this way, the continuous copying of pages is performed in the digital copying machine equipped with the IPS 1 of the present embodiment.

As described above, the IPS1 of this embodiment
The IPS-CPU 2 divides the image data into each page when the page copying is performed by the digital copying machine equipped with the IPS 1, and the ACS section 3 forms the original image of each page as a color image. It is determined whether the image is a monochrome image or not, and the IPS-CPU 2 causes the IOT 22 to output a color image or a monochrome image for each page according to the result. Therefore, this IPS1
Then, for example, even if one page 31 of the spread book 30 is a color image and the other page 32 is a monochrome image, it is possible to output each page as a color image or a monochrome image. As a result, the IOT 22 does not perform color output on the page on which a black-and-white image is drawn, and as a result, it is possible to save the developer and reduce the development time.

Further, the IPS1 of this embodiment is the IIT
Based on the result of one prescan at 21, the ACS unit 3 determines for each page whether the original image is a color image or a monochrome image. Therefore, this IPS
With No. 1, it is not necessary to repeatedly perform the pre-scan in order to discriminate each page separately, and it is possible to promptly deal with the case where the color image and the monochrome image are mixed in each page of the document image. This makes it possible to achieve efficient copying, which is the original purpose of continuous page copying.

Next, an operation example in the case of performing enlarged continuous copying using the digital copying machine equipped with the IPS 1 of this embodiment will be described. Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the original image 40 for one page of A4 size is displayed in the area 41.
The following description will be given by taking as an example the case where the enlarged continuous shooting is performed by dividing the area into nine areas from area 49 to area 49. However, this original image 4
It is assumed that text is drawn as a black and white image in the areas 43 and 47 of 0 and an image is drawn as a color image in the other areas. A hatched portion in the drawing is a portion where the regions overlap.

Even in the case of enlarging continuous copying of such an original image 40, in the case of page continuous copying described above in the digital copying machine equipped with the IPS 1 of the present embodiment (see FIGS. 3 and 4). ). Therefore, here, only the differences from the case of the page continuous copying will be described. That is, according to the setting in U / I23, IIT2
1 performs a pre-scan on the original image 40, AC
The S unit 3 determines whether the original image is a color image or a monochrome image for each of the nine regions 41 to 49 divided by the IPS-CPU 2. In the case of this operation example, since the text is drawn in the area 43 and the area 47 as a black-and-white image and the image is drawn in the other areas as a color image, the ACS section 3 has the areas 41, 42, 44, and 4.
It is determined that 5, 46, 48 and 49 are color images and the regions 43 and 47 are monochrome images.

Subsequently, in the IPS-CPU 2, when the main scan is performed on the document image 40, the image is drawn in each area of the document image based on the determination result of the ACS unit 3 held in the holding unit 4. Recognizes whether the image is a color image or a monochrome image, and notifies the System-CPU 24 of the result.
Then, the regions 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 48, 4
The image data read from 9 is output as a color image on A4 size recording paper, and the area 4
The image data read from Nos. 3 and 47 are output as black and white images on recording sheets of A4 size. In this way, in the digital copying machine equipped with the IPS 1 of the present embodiment, enlarged continuous copying is performed.

As described above, the IPS1 of this embodiment
The IPS-CPU 2 divides the image data into a plurality of areas, and the ACS section 3 forms a color image of the original image in each area when performing the enlarged continuous copying by a digital copying machine equipped with the IPS 1. It is determined whether the image is a monochrome image or not, and the IPS-CPU 2 causes the IOT 22 to output a color image or a monochrome image for each area according to the result. Therefore, in this IPS1,
For example, specific areas 43 and 47 of the original image 40 are black and white images and other areas 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 48 and 49.
Even if it is a color image, it is possible to output a color image or a monochrome image for each area. As a result, the IOT 22 does not output the color to the area in which the monochrome image is drawn, and as a result, it is possible to realize the saving of the developer and the reduction of the developing time.

Further, the IPS1 of this embodiment is the IIT
Based on the result of one pre-scan at 21, the ACS unit 3 determines for each area whether the original image is a color image or a monochrome image. Therefore, this IPS1
Therefore, it is not necessary to repeatedly perform pre-scan in order to distinguish each area separately, and it is possible to quickly respond even if a color image and a monochrome image are mixed in each area of the original image. Therefore, it is possible to achieve efficient copying, which is the original purpose of enlarged continuous copying.

[0037]

As described above, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the dividing means divides the image data read by the image input apparatus into each page or a plurality of areas in a plurality of pages, and For each page or each area, it is determined whether the original image is a color image or a black-and-white image, and according to the result, the output control unit forms a color image or a black-and-white image for each page or each area. It is designed to be output by an output device. Therefore, in this image processing apparatus, for example, even if a color image and a monochrome image are mixed in the original image, it is possible to output as a color image or a monochrome image for each page or each area. As a result, the image output device does not perform color output to the area in which a monochrome image is drawn, and as a result, it is possible to realize the saving of the developer and the reduction of the developing time.

Further, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the discriminating means discriminates whether the original image is a color image or a monochrome image for each page or each region based on the result of one scan by the image input device. It is supposed to do. Therefore, in this image processing device, it is not necessary to repeatedly scan each page or each area separately, and a color image and a black-and-white image are mixed in each page or each area of the original image. Even if there is, you can respond quickly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an example of an embodiment of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed functional configuration of the image processing apparatus of FIG.

3 is a flowchart showing an operation example of a copying process in a digital copying machine equipped with the image processing apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of a two-page spread book for performing continuous page copying.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of a document image on which enlarged continuous copying is performed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 IPS (image processing apparatus) 2 IPS-CPU (dividing means, output control means) 3 ACS section (discriminating means) 4 holding section (holding means) 21 IIT (image input apparatus) 22 IOT (image output apparatus)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image processing device connected to an image input device for reading image data from a document image and an image output device for outputting the image data as a visible image, wherein the image input device comprises a plurality of image data from the document image. When the image data of the page is read by one-time reading, the dividing unit that divides the image data of the plurality of pages into each page, and each page of the original image is colorized from the image data divided by the dividing unit. Based on the discrimination means for discriminating whether it is an image or a monochrome image, holding means for holding the discrimination result by the discrimination means for each page in the plurality of pages, and the discrimination result held by the holding means. And output control means for instructing the image output device whether to output each page of the image data as a color image or a monochrome image. The image processing apparatus characterized by obtaining. 2. An image processing device connected to an image input device for reading image data from a document image and an image output device for outputting the image data as a visible image, wherein the image input device is an image from the document image. When reading the data, dividing means for dividing the image data into a plurality of areas, and whether each area of the original image from the image data divided by the dividing means is a color image or a monochrome image Discriminating means for discriminating between the areas of the image data based on the discrimination result retained by the retaining means. An image processing apparatus, comprising: output control means for instructing the image output apparatus whether to output as a color image or a monochrome image.