JPH09252413A - Image processor and image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a time required for copy processing and to relieve the load on a computer. SOLUTION: A color image read section 101 of the color image processor 100 conducts preliminary scanning at a low resolution and obtained image data are transferred to a computer 200 and stored in an image memory 110. The computer 200 uses plural gamma correction tables to apply gamma correction to the image data sequentially and the result is displayed on a monitor 111, the operator decides a optimum gamma correction table and the table is transferred to the color image processing unit 100, in which the table is stored in a color correction parameter section 102. Thin the color image read section 101 conducts main scanning with a high resolution and the computer 200 uses a gamma correction table stored in the color correction parameter section 102 to apply gamma correction to the obtained image data and the result is outputted from a color image output section 106.

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, a method thereof and an image processing system, for example, an image processing apparatus connected to a computer, a method thereof and an image processing system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a color image reading device and a color printer are connected to a computer, and a document image is read by the color image reading device to a computer as a means for performing a color correction process on a color image to perform a copying process. After capturing image data and performing image processing,
There is an image processing system that obtains a color copy of a document image by transferring image data to a color printer and printing it out.

A configuration of the above-mentioned conventional image processing system is shown in FIG. 8 and will be described below.

In FIG. 8, reference numeral 310 is a color image reading device, 320 is a color printer, and 330 is a computer. In the color image reading device 310, 301
Is a color image reading unit, 302 is an image processing unit that performs image processing such as scaling processing and pixel density conversion processing, and 303 is a computer 330 and a color image reading device 310 that are connected to each other to transfer image data from the color reading device 310 to the computer. A computer interface unit for transferring to 330. Computer 330 has computer 33
0 a control unit 304 that controls the entire control, an image memory 305 that stores image data, and a monitor 30 that displays a color image
6 are connected. Further, in the color printer 320, 307 is the computer 330 and the color printer 3.
A computer interface unit that connects 20 to take in the image data transferred from the computer 304 to the color printer 320, 308 is an image processing unit that performs image processing such as pixel density conversion processing and color conversion processing, and 309 is color image data. It is a color image output unit for outputting on a storage medium.

A specific operation at the time of copying processing in the image processing system having the above-mentioned configuration will be described below.

First, in the color image reading device 310, a color original is read by the image reading section 301, and the read color image data is subjected to predetermined image processing by the image processing section 302. Then, the image data after the image processing is transferred from the color image reading device 310 to the computer 330 via the computer interface unit 303.
Transfer to The transferred image data is stored in the computer 3
It is stored in the image memory 305 in 30. Then, with respect to the image data stored in the image memory 305, the control unit 3
In 04, color correction processing is performed, and the color image after color correction is displayed on the monitor 306. While confirming the color tone of the image displayed on the monitor 306, the operator repeats the color correction processing by the control unit 304 via an operation unit (not shown),
After the desired image is obtained, the image data is transferred to the color printer 320. The color printer 320 receives the image data after the color correction processing through the computer interface unit 307, performs a predetermined image processing on the image data received by the image processing unit 308, and a color image output unit 309 performs a color image on a recording medium. Is output. This completes the copying process.

The image processing units 30 in the color image reading device 310 and the color printer 320, respectively.
The image processing in 2, 308 is performed by an instruction from an operation unit (not shown) provided in each device itself, or the computer 33.
Instructions from 0 are possible.

[0008]

However, in the image processing system having the above-mentioned conventional structure, when the color image is color-corrected and the copying process is executed, all the image data to be copied is read by the color image reading device 31.
It is necessary to transfer all the data to the color printer 320 after the color image is imported from 0 to the computer 330 and the color correction process is performed on the imported color image in the computer 330. Therefore, communication of image data among the color image reading device 310, the computer 330, and the color printer 320 is indispensable, and it takes a certain amount of processing time to complete the copying process of all the image data.

Further, since the color correction processing and the like associated with the copy processing are carried out by the computer 330, the computer 330 has a certain load. Therefore, during the copying process, the computer 33 is equivalent to the load.
When the processing capacity of 0 is reduced and other processing is performed in parallel in the host computer 330, there is a problem that the processing efficiency of the other processing is reduced.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and in an image processing system in which color correction control in a copying process is performed by a computer, the time required for the copying process is reduced and the load on the computer is reduced. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus, a method thereof, and an image processing system that can be reduced.

[0011]

As one means for achieving the above object, the image processing apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, receiving means for receiving image data showing a target image from an external device, storage means for storing the image data, image processing on the image data, and displaying the result of the image processing. According to the setting means for setting the image processing parameter for obtaining a desired image processing result and the image processing parameter used when the external device outputs the target image as a visible image, the setting means sets the image processing parameter. And a transmission means for transmitting the image processing parameter to the external device.

As one method for achieving the above-mentioned object, the image processing method of the present invention includes the following steps.

That is, a receiving step of receiving image data showing a target image from an external device, a storing step of storing the image data, image processing of the image data, and displaying a result of the image processing. According to the setting step of setting the image processing parameter for obtaining a desired image processing result, and the image processing parameter used when the external device outputs the target image as a visible image, the setting means sets the image processing parameter. And a step of transmitting the image processing parameter to the external device.

Further, as one means for achieving the above object, the image processing system of the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, in an image processing system in which a computer and an image processing device are connected to each other, the image processing device has input means for inputting image data, and the image data is transmitted to the computer, and the image data is transmitted from the computer. Communication means for receiving the information, first image processing means for performing image processing on the image data based on the information from the computer, and output means for outputting the image data after the image processing on a recording medium. The computer has a second image processing means for performing image processing on the image data transmitted by the communication means, and a display for displaying the image data subjected to the image processing by the second image processing means. And means for instructing to transmit the information on the image data displayed on the display means to the image processing apparatus. To.

With the above configuration, the computer gives an instruction according to the input image data,
Optimal image processing can be performed on the image processing apparatus side.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an image processing system according to this embodiment. In FIG. 1, 100 is a color image processing apparatus and 200 is a computer. In the present embodiment, the color image input / output unit 100 and the computer 200 are connected to each other to realize a copying process.

In the color image processing apparatus 100, 10
Reference numeral 1 is a color image reading unit for reading a color original as multi-valued image data by a CCD or the like, 102 is a color correction parameter unit configured by a RAM and storing a γ correction table set by the computer 109, and 103 is a γ correction process for each color. An image processing unit that performs scaling processing, pixel density conversion processing, color conversion processing, and the like, and a computer interface unit 104 that controls transfer of image data between the color image processing apparatus 100 and the computer 200. Reference numeral 105 denotes an image output control unit that controls output of color image data, and 1
A color image output unit 06 outputs image data on a recording medium. Reference numeral 107 denotes a CPU that controls the operation of the processing unit in the color image input / output unit 100, and 108 denotes the CPU
07 is a system bus connecting each processing unit; 112 is a ROM for storing a processing program executed by the CPU 107 including processing shown in a flowchart described later;
A RAM 3 is used as a work area of the CPU 107.

In the computer 200, 109
110 is a control unit that controls the entire computer 200,
Is an image memory, 111 is a monitor, and 116 is an operation unit. In the present embodiment, the monitor 111 is described as being included in the computer 200, but of course, it is a device independent of the computer 200 and is configured to be connected to the computer 200 via a predetermined interface. May be. Similarly, the image memory 110 may also be an external storage device connected to the computer 200.

In FIG. 1, thick arrows indicate the flow of main image data, and other thin arrows indicate the control direction.

With the above-described structure, in the present embodiment, an instruction according to the input image data is given from the computer side, so that the image processing apparatus side can perform the optimum image processing, which is a unique effect. can get.

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of copying processing in the image processing system of this embodiment.

First, in step S201, the computer 2
The control unit 109 in 00 transmits a command indicating a copy instruction to the color image processing apparatus 100. This is done, for example, by the operator inputting a copy instruction from the operation unit 116 on the computer 200. Then, in step S202, the color image processing apparatus 100 prescans the color original set in the color image reading unit 101. It should be noted that the reading of the image data in the pre-scan is performed at a lower resolution than in the main scan described later.

Then, in step S203, the image processing unit 103 performs predetermined image processing such as scaling processing and pixel density conversion on the multivalued image data output from the color image reading unit 101, and in step S204 the image processing is performed. The subsequent image data is transferred to the computer 200 via the computer interface unit 104 and stored in the image memory 110. Next, in step S205,
Set the optimum color correction parameters for the read image.

Here, the color correction parameter set in step S205 is specifically a γ correction table. The details of the color correction parameter setting process will be described below.
This will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the control unit 109 in the computer 200, and 401 is a CPU, 4
Reference numeral 02 is a ROM and 403 is a RAM. The ROM 402 holds a processing program 404 indicating processing in the computer 200, and the processing program is the CPU 40.
1 is read out and executed by using the RAM 403 as a work area. Further, the ROM 402 holds a plurality of γ correction tables 405, and the plurality of γ correction tables 40
5 is RAM403 by CPU401 as mentioned later.
The data is sequentially read into the γ table setting area 406 in the inside.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the color correction parameter setting processing, that is, the processing by the processing program 404. First, in step S501,
The CPU 401 reads the first table from the plurality of γ correction tables 405 in the ROM 402 and sets it in the γ table setting area 406 in the RAM 403. Then, in step S502, by using the γ correction table set in the γ table setting area 406, the image memory 11
The γ correction process is performed on the image data stored in 0.
Then, in step S503, the image data after the γ correction is displayed on the monitor 111. And step S504
Then, the operator confirms the color tone of the color image displayed on the monitor 111, and if it is not the desired color tone, the process returns to step S501, and the CPU 401 sets the next γ correction table in the γ table setting area 406, Step S504
In, the above-described processing is repeated until the color tone desired by the operator is obtained.

When the color tone desired by the operator is obtained in step S504, for example, the operator depresses an OK key or the like from the operation unit 116 to obtain the optimum γ for the color image data stored in the image memory 110. The correction table is set in the γ table setting area 406.

Returning to FIG. 2, step S is performed as described above.
When the optimum γ correction table is set in 205,
Then, the process proceeds to step S206 and step S20.
The color processing parameters (γ correction table for each color) set in the γ table setting area 406 in 5 are stored in the computer 2
00 to the color image processing apparatus 100 via the computer interface unit 104 and stored in the color correction parameter unit 102. Further, at this time, the computer 20
An instruction command for starting the main scan is transmitted from 0 to the color image processing apparatus 100.

Next, in step S207, according to an instruction from the CPU 107 based on the instruction command, the color image reading unit 101 performs a main scan with a resolution higher than that in prescan for the same color original as in prescan in step S202. To do. The image data read by the main scan is sent to the image processing unit 103, subjected to image processing such as scaling processing, pixel density conversion processing, color conversion processing, and the γ correction stored in the color correction parameter unit 102. The γ correction processing is performed for each color with reference to the table. The image data after the image processing is performed in step S20.
At 9, the image is transferred to the color image output unit 106 via the image output control unit 105 and is output on the recording medium, whereby a copy image of a color original can be obtained.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
First, the original image data is read at a low resolution, the computer 200 actually performs γ correction using a plurality of γ correction tables, and the result is optimized by confirming the result on the monitor display. Can be selected. Then, the selected γ correction table is transferred to the color image processing apparatus 100, the original image is read again with high resolution, and the color image processing apparatus 10 is read.
Within 0, γ correction using the optimum γ correction table is performed. This makes it possible to perform the optimum γ correction in the color image processing apparatus 100, and the load on the computer 200 is reduced.

That is, by connecting the image processing apparatus including the image reading section and the printer section to the computer,
At the time of copying the original image, the image data read in the image processing apparatus can be subjected to image processing such as color correction processing and the processed image data can be directly transferred to the printer, thus eliminating the need for a computer. Therefore, the load on the computer during copying can be reduced.

Further, by reading the original image data at a low resolution during the prescan, the color image processing apparatus 1
00 and the computer 200 can exchange a small amount of communication data, thus improving the overall throughput in the copying process.

That is, by reading the original image at a low resolution during the prescan, the data amount of the color image to be transferred to the computer can be reduced, and the image data is transferred from the computer to the printer when outputting the image data. Since it is not necessary, higher speed copying processing is possible.

<Second Embodiment> The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
An embodiment will be described.

In the above-described first embodiment, the image processing apparatus performs the low-resolution prescan and transfers the obtained image data to the computer 200, thereby reducing the communication data amount.

The second embodiment is characterized in that the pre-scan is not performed in the same configuration as the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the image processing system in the second embodiment. In FIG. 5, an image memory 114 is provided in the color image processing apparatus 100, and since other configurations are similar to those of the above-described first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

The flow chart of the copying process in the second embodiment is shown in FIG. 6 and will be described below. First, in step S801, the control unit 109 in the computer 200 issues a copy instruction to the color image processing apparatus 100.
This is done, for example, by the operator inputting a copy instruction from the operation unit 116 on the computer 200. Then, in step S802, the color image processing apparatus 1
00 scans the color original set in the color image reading unit 101.

Then, in step S 803, the image processing unit 103 performs predetermined image processing such as scaling processing and pixel density conversion on the multivalued image data output from the color image reading unit 101, and stores it in the image memory 114. Then, in step S 804, the image data after the image processing is transferred to the computer 200 via the computer interface unit 104 and stored in the image memory 110. Next, in step S805, the optimum color correction parameter (γ correction table) for the read image is set as in the first embodiment described above.

Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S806, and the color processing parameters (γ correction table for each color) set in step S805 are transferred from the computer 200 to the color image processing apparatus 100 via the computer interface unit 104, It is stored in the color correction parameter unit 102.

Next, in step S807, the CPU 1
In accordance with the instruction 07, the image processing unit 103 performs image processing such as scaling processing, pixel density conversion processing, and color conversion processing on the image data stored in the image memory 114, and the color correction parameter unit 102 further performs image processing. The γ correction processing is performed for each color by referring to the stored γ correction table. The image data after the image processing is transferred to the color image output unit 106 via the image output control unit 105 in step S209 and is output on the recording medium, whereby a copy image of a color original can be obtained.

As described above, according to the second embodiment,
The amount of image data transferred to the computer 200 increases because pre-scanning of the original image with a low resolution is not performed, but it is not necessary to transfer the image data from the computer 200 to the color image processing apparatus, and the original image is re-scanned. Since it is not necessary to scan, a higher throughput than that of the above-described first embodiment can be obtained depending on the processing speed of the color image reading unit 101.

<Third Embodiment> The third embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
An embodiment will be described.

In the first embodiment described above, in the control unit 109 in the computer 200, the internal R
It has been described that the processing program 404 is stored in the OM 402. In the third embodiment, the processing program 404 is not necessarily the R in the computer 200.
An example in which the program is not stored in the OM 402 but is provided as a program stored in an external storage medium will be described.

FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the image processing system in the third embodiment. It differs from the first embodiment described above in that a floppy disk drive 115 is connected to the computer 200. Reference numeral 115 indicates a state in which a floppy disk is loaded in the floppy disk drive, and hereinafter, 115 indicates the floppy disk itself which is a storage medium. The floppy disk 11
5, the processing program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 described above is stored, and the CPU of the computer 200 is stored.
By reading the processing program from the floppy disk 115 onto the RAM 403, the 401 can realize the same operation as that of the first embodiment.

Similarly, the color image processing apparatus 100 is also provided.
Also, the processing program is not necessarily the ROM 11
Like the computer 200, the program stored in an external storage medium such as a floppy disk is read by the CPU 107 instead of being stored in the computer 2, so that the same operation as that of the above-described first embodiment can be realized. it can.

In each of the above-described embodiments, an example in which the γ correction table is set as the color correction parameter has been described, but other color correction parameters may be used, and the load on the computer 200 can be reduced as much as possible. it can.

Further, the present invention can be applied not only to a color image but also to a monochrome image. However, in general, when a color image is processed as compared with a case where a monochrome image is processed, a color correction process or the like is performed. The present invention is particularly useful for color images because of its large processing amount.

The present invention may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices such as a host computer, an interface and a printer, or may be applied to an apparatus including a single device such as a copying machine. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a case where it is achieved by supplying a program stored in a storage medium such as a floppy disk to a system or an apparatus.

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention, the processing related to the visible image output can be shared between the image processing apparatus and the external apparatus, the addition of the image processing apparatus can be reduced, and the processing can be performed efficiently and at high speed. Can be processed.

[0054]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing copy processing according to the present embodiment.

3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a control unit 109 in the computer 200. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a color correction parameter setting process.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing copy processing according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional image processing system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 image processing device 101 color image reading unit 102 color correction parameter unit 103 image processing unit 104 computer I / F unit 105 image output control unit 106 color image output unit 107 CPU 108 system bus 112 ROM 113 RAM 114 image memory 200 computer 109 control Part 110 Image memory 111 Monitor 115 Floppy disk 401 CPU 402 ROM 403 RAM 405 γ correction table 406 γ table setting area

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Agency reference number FI Technical display location H04N 1/46 Z

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A receiving unit for receiving image data representing a target image from an external device, a storage unit for storing the image data, image processing of the image data, and displaying a result of the image processing. According to the setting means for setting the image processing parameter for obtaining a desired image processing result, and the image processing parameter used when the external device outputs the target image as a visible image, the setting means is set by the setting means. An image processing apparatus, comprising: a transmission unit that transmits image processing parameters to the external device. 2. The received image data is low-resolution image data, and when the external device outputs the target image as a visible image, the visible image is output based on the high-resolution image data indicating the target image. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image is output as an image. 3. The transmitting means transmits a command instructing a copying process to the external device, the external device scans the target image based on the command, and outputs image data obtained by the scanning. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus transmits the image processing apparatus. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing is color processing. 5. A receiving step of receiving image data representing a target image from an external device, a storing step of storing the image data, image processing of the image data, and displaying a result of the image processing. According to the setting step of setting an image processing parameter for obtaining a desired image processing result, the external device sets the image processing parameter as an image processing parameter to be used when outputting the target image as a visible image, which is set by the setting means. And a step of transmitting the image processing parameter to the external device. 6. An image processing system in which a computer and an image processing device are connected to each other, wherein the image processing device includes input means for inputting image data, and the image data is transmitted from the computer to the computer. A first image processing means for performing image processing on the image data based on the information from the computer; and an output means for outputting the image data after the image processing onto a recording medium. The computer displays second image processing means for performing image processing on the image data transmitted by the communication means, and image data subjected to image processing by the second image processing means. A display unit, and an instruction unit for instructing to transmit information related to the image data displayed on the display unit to the image processing apparatus,
An image processing system comprising: