JPH09284539A - Image processing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent memory overflow or missing of data by setting an operation of an image information compression rate prediction means into an inhibit state depending on setting entry. SOLUTION: Outputs 133, 134 of an image processing section 11 are compressed by a compression circuit of a PMB 15 and stored in a DRAM. Then DRAM residual amount detection signals 189, 199 are given to a controller 123 of the image processing section 11. Furthermore, various image processing mode signals from an OCU 3 are given to the controller 123. Then a compression rate prediction circuit 160 predicts the compression rate of the image based on information obtained from the controller 123 via a bus 161 and a filter circuit output signal and provides an output to the controller 123. Depending on the setting of the OCU 3 at that time, a decoration information/magnification information table is referenced and whether or not the compression rate prediction is to be conducted is discriminated and the result is informed to the controller 123.

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 device such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a scanner, a printer, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC) or a workstation (hereinafter referred to as WS), and an image. The present invention relates to an image processing device having a memory that stores data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, sorting or grouping in a copying machine has been performed by using a device for physically sorting output sheets or by circulating an original many times. Therefore, it takes time to read the original,
Further, it has been a cause of damage to the document.

Therefore, an electronic sorter has been proposed which reads a document image and electrically sorts it. The electronic sorter uses a memory that stores image data.
This memory uses a low-speed large-capacity hard disk or a high-speed small-capacity semiconductor memory, and an image from the input side may be in a long processing waiting state or a prohibiting state due to restrictions on the storage speed and storage capacity. In addition, various job schedulings have been proposed to give priority to users who bring originals in front of the main body of the digital copying machine. However, in today's large-capacity copying or large-capacity output from a PC, immediacy is imperative. Therefore, improvement in processing speed is required.

[0004]

Therefore, a large-capacity semiconductor memory is used to improve immediacy and processing speed.
This large-capacity semiconductor memory also has a limit of storage capacity, and control of the device at the storage capacity limit has been a problem.

Specifically, when various kinds of image processing such as scaling (enlargement / reduction), image decoration, image editing, and density change are executed before being stored in the storage means, the data amount of the stored image is There has been a problem that it becomes indefinite and it is difficult to guarantee that such image data is reliably stored.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. The object of the present invention is to perform various image processings such as scaling, image decoration, image editing, and density change. Even at times, it is to provide an image processing apparatus that facilitates device control.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises an arithmetic processing means for arithmetically processing an image signal after exposing an original and photoelectrically converting it. Image information compressing means for compressing the image information arithmetically processed by the arithmetic processing means, compressed data accumulating means for accumulating the compressed data compressed by the image information compressing means, and setting input means for setting various image processing modes. And an image information compression rate prediction means for predicting the compression rate of the image information compression means from an image signal, and a switching means for switching permission / prohibition of the operation of the image information compression rate prediction means. The operation of the image information compression rate predicting means is prohibited by the switching means according to the setting of.

In order to achieve the above object, the image processing apparatus according to claim 2 of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting of the setting input means is a copy magnification setting. It is what

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the image processing apparatus according to claim 3 of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting of the setting input means is halftone dot, negative / positive inversion, and image repeat. , Italics, contour extraction, symmetry, rotation, mirror image, color pattern conversion, and other image decoration settings.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the image processing apparatus according to claim 4 of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting of the setting input means is a moving composition of an arbitrary area designation area. / Mask / trimming, layout, and other image editing settings.

In order to achieve the above object, the image processing apparatus according to claim 5 of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting of the setting input means is a predetermined density setting. It is a feature.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the image processing apparatus according to claim 6 of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching is performed only when the setting of the setting input means is a copy number setting. It is characterized in that the operation of the image information compression rate predicting means is switched to the permitting state by means.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the image processing apparatus according to claim 7 of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting of the setting input means can be selected by a user. It is characterized by that.

In order to achieve the above object, the image processing apparatus according to claim 8 of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the compressed data is based on the prediction of the compression rate by the image information compression prediction means. It is characterized in that the storage of compressed data in the storage means is controlled.

Further, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an image processing apparatus according to claim 9 of the present invention comprises arithmetic processing means for arithmetically processing an image signal after exposing and photoelectrically converting an original, and the arithmetic processing means. Image information compression means for compressing the image information that has been arithmetically processed, and compressed data storage means for storing the compressed data compressed by the image information compression means,
Setting input means for setting various image processing modes, image information compression rate prediction means for predicting the compression rate of the image information compression means from an image signal, and determination of valid / invalid of the operation of the image information compression rate prediction means And a determination means for performing the operation of the image information compression rate prediction means by the determination means according to the setting of the setting input means.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 33. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus (copier) according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is an image recording unit (hereinafter, referred to as a printer unit), 2 is an image reading unit (hereinafter, referred to as a reader unit), 3 is an operation unit (hereinafter, referred to as a printer unit).
Operator control unit: described as OCU), 4 is a finishing device.

The reader unit 2 includes an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) 200 for automatically feeding a document to a reading position, and a scanner unit 2 for optically reading a document image.
Consists of 50 and 50. The specific operation of the reader unit 2 will be described later with reference to FIG. The printer unit 1 includes an image read by the reader unit 2, a computer terminal, and various external devices (not shown) such as a facsimile.
Is converted into a visible image and printed on a recording medium such as transfer paper. The printer unit 1 includes a large-capacity print buffer memory (hereinafter, referred to as PBM) 15 as shown in FIG. 8, and stores images input from the ADF 200 and images transmitted from the external device. Then, after the accumulation, a sorting process such as page replacement is performed. Printer section
The specific operation description 1 will also be described later.

The OCU 3 is composed of a display and an operation keyboard (or a touch panel type display), and inputs various settings made by the user such as setting the number of copies, setting the number of copies, editing and processing of images, and is selected. Information indicating modes and device states is displayed. The finishing device 4 is a part that performs post-process processing on output paper recorded on a recording medium by the printer unit 1, and performs processing such as sorting, stapling or bookbinding.

Next, the basic operation of the image processing apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. 1 will be described. User is leader
If you set multiple originals on the second ADF200 and specify the mode setting and copy start with OCU3, the ADF200 will set the originals to 1
The sheets are fed one by one and read by the scanner unit 250. In the scanner section 250, the reflected light 110 from the exposed original is CCD
It is photoelectrically converted by the line sensor 111 (see FIG. 2) and read as an electric signal. The read image signal is subjected to various kinds of processing in an image processing unit 11 described later, and then subjected to compression processing and transferred to the PBM 15 of the printer unit 1. In the printer unit 1, images are sequentially read from the PBM 15 in accordance with the above-described user setting from the OCU 3, and the read images are converted into optical signals for photoconductor exposure.

After that, recording is performed on the recording medium through the steps of charging, exposing, latent image, developing, transferring, separating and fixing in a usual electrophotographic process.

The above is the description of the basic operation of the image processing apparatus of FIG.

Next, the basic operation of the ADF 200 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing the configurations of the ADF 200 and the scanner unit 250 described above. In the drawing, reference numeral 201 denotes a document tray on which documents are stacked; 202, a mirror for guiding the reflected light 110 from the document to the CCD 111; 203, a flow-reading document reading position; 204, a book mode scan reading position; 205, a paper feed unit; Paper feed path to document reading position 203, 20
7 is a transport path for discharging the one-sided document read at the drift reading document reading position 203, 208 is a transport path for transporting the back side of the document read at the drift reading document reading position 203 again to the drift reading document reading position 203, Reference numeral 209 denotes a transport path that scans the back surface of the original and reads the original at the original reading position 203 and then discharges the original.

Here, the "scanning original reading" means the original read from the original tray 201 while the mirror 202 is fixed at the scanning original reading position 203.
This is a method of scanning by moving it up. The flow of originals is conveyed along the direction of the arrow attached to the conveying path. When the back side of the document is read here, the image is read as a mirror image of the image obtained by reading the front side of the document. The process for converting the mirror image into a normal image will be described later in the image processing section 11. In the figure,
The solid line arrow indicates the flow direction of a single-sided document, and the dotted line arrow indicates the flow direction of a double-sided document.

Book mode scan is a book mode scan reading position in contrast to this flow reading original reading system.
This is a method of scanning while moving an optical device such as the mirror 202 and the lamp 213 without moving the original placed on the 204.

In both cases, the reading section moves relative to the original, so that the original is scanned for reading.

After the light reflected by the original exposure passes through the lens 210, a CCD line sensor (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 111
It is projected on the top and photoelectrically converted. In the configuration shown in FIG. 2,
If the transport path 206 is vertical feed (portrait feed), A4
It is configured to be long enough to hold two size documents. Similarly, in the transport path 208, in the case of vertical feeding (portrait feeding) in which the document is fed in the direction of the shorter side of the document, an A4 size document is
It is configured with a length that can accommodate two sheets. Also, the transport paths 206 and 20
In both cases, in the case of landscape feeding in which the document is fed in the direction of the long side of the document, the document is configured to have a length that can accommodate one A3-size document.

Documents placed on the paper feed tray 201 are face-up top page processing in which the front side of the document is placed on top and the top page is placed on top. In the case of single-sided original reading, the original is read sequentially along the solid line arrow in the figure. However, in the case of double-sided original reading, the half-size original (A4
Portrait, B5 portrait, A5 portrait) take different paper feed sequences. Half-size originals are fed two by two, and the back side of the two originals read at the original reading position 203 is read via the transport path 208. Then, at the same time when the reading of the second document of the back side reading is completed, a sequence in which the reading of the front side of the next two documents starts is performed. That is, 1
It is read in the order of the first table, the second table, the first back, the second back, the third table, the fourth table, the third back ... .

Such a double-sided original reading operation is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. In the figure, 1A and 2A are 1
1B and 2B are the original images of the back of the first sheet and the second sheet, respectively, and 3A and 4A are 3 and 4 respectively.
These are the manuscript images of the front and fourth sheets, and 3B and 4B are the manuscript images of the back of the third sheet and the back of the fourth sheet.

In the ADF 200 shown in FIG. 2, the original placed on the original tray 201 is a non-circulating original feeding device which returns the original to the return tray 231 without returning to the original tray 201 again. Further, the paper feeding unit 205 and the transport paths 206, 207, 208, 209 in FIG.
Has a structure that can be driven independently, and can be driven individually,
Stopping and speed control are possible. Control of document transportation in the ADF 200 is performed by the controller 123 (see FIG. 4) controlling the ADF 200 based on the designation from the OCU 3 and the state of a PBM (print buffer memory) 15 described later.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 211 is a standby position in the transport path 206, and 212 is a standby position in the transport path 208.
These are positions at which a document is stopped in the conveyance path according to the state of the PBM 15 described later, and position control is performed based on the paper detection sensor passage time and the conveyance speed. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 230 denotes a conveyance path for returning the original to the return tray 231.

Next, the image processing section 11 for performing image processing on the read image data will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image processing unit 11. In FIG. 4, the reflected light 110 of the document that has reached the document reading position is received by the CCD 111 and is photoelectrically converted, so that RGB (red, green, (Blue) electrical signal. The image signal generated here is converted into a digital image signal after being amplified by an A (analog) / D (digital) conversion circuit 112. The digitized RGB signals are normalized and standardized by performing black correction, white correction (shading correction), and color correction (masking) in the shading / color space conversion circuit 113. The standardized RGB signal is supplied to a two-color separation circuit 11.
In step 4, the brightness / density conversion and the black / red color separation process are performed to generate a black image data signal 115 and a red image data signal 116.

Subsequent processing has independent circuit configurations for the black image data signal and the red image data signal, and is performed in parallel. Selector circuits 165 and 166 are C
Either the image data 115, 116 input from the CD 111 or the image data 167, 168 externally input from a PC or the like is selected. This choice is based on OCU3 settings.

The following filter circuits 117 and 118 perform filtering for recovering the decrease in MTF at the time of reading an image and for weakening a moire pattern generated at the time of reading a halftone dot original. The page memories 119 and 120 have a capacity that can store an image of up to A3 size for one page.
The image read by the bidirectional document feeder is read as the mirror image image while the image read in the reverse direction is read as the image in the forward direction. Here, the page memories 119 and 120 perform control to convert the image read as a mirror image into a normal image by further performing mirror image processing. Also figure
5A, a specific area of the original image 610 is moved to another place to obtain an image 611 as shown in FIG. 5B.
Processing for implementing the & Paste function, and reducing the input image of multiple sheets to 50% by the next-stage scaling / resolution conversion circuits 125 and 126, and converting the four originals as shown in FIG. Image 610,
A reduced layout function for obtaining an image 611 as shown in FIG. 6B formed on one sheet of paper is also performed on the page memories 119 and 120 by the memory control signal 124 from the controller 123. The scaling / resolution conversion circuits 125 and 126 perform normal image size conversion not only when the above-described reduced layout function is realized. In the image decoration circuits 127 and 128, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7B, an image as shown in FIG.
621, a function of obtaining an image 622 that has been subjected to shading processing, an image 623 that has undergone shading processing on an image portion, and the like are realized.

The density conversion circuits 129 and 130 perform gamma conversion for correcting the linearity characteristic of the printer unit 1 and processing for reflecting the density adjustment level input by the user from the OCU 3 on the image data. The image data up to this point is 8
Although the signal is a 256-bit gradation signal, the gradation number conversion (error diffusion) circuits 131 and 132 convert the image signal into a 4-bit 16-gradation image signal that can be expressed by the printer unit 1. The error due to the gradation conversion is diffused in order to cancel the density unevenness generated at the time of converting the gradation number in a certain area.

The above is the image signal processing operation performed in the image processing section 11.

Next, a PBM (print buffer memory) 15 for storing a large number of pages of images for printing will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of PBM15. In FIG.
The black image data signal 133 and the red image data signal 134 input to the M15 are encoded by the compression processing of the compression circuits 150 and 153 using the variable length lossless compression method. Variable-length lossless means that the amount of data at the time of compression differs depending on the input image, but has the property of restoring exactly the same as the input image after decompression processing, and is compared with fixed-length lossy compression methods such as JPEG. It is. Variable length lossless compression method is MH, Q-CODER, Lempel Z
There are methods such as iv, but any method is acceptable. DRAM151,154
Is a memory unit in the PBM 15, which is composed of a semiconductor memory or a hard disk, and a control unit for addressing them. Brochure mode described above (1 page / N pages on the front side, 2 pages on the back side, N-1
When the pages are recorded and the other pages are arranged in the same manner, the DRAM 151, 1
This is achieved by controlling the addressing in 54. Then, the image to be printed out is read from the DRAMs 151 and 154, and restored to the original image data by the decompression processing circuits 152 and 153. The readout timing here is such that the black image data signal 135 is a timing necessary for forming a black image,
The red image data signal 136 is independently read out at the timing required for forming a red image. This DRAM 151, 154
Stores image data related to all jobs. The remaining amount detection circuits 157 and 158 detect the amounts of the storable areas of the DRAMs 151 and 154, respectively, and output the detection results as a black memory remaining amount detection signal 198 and a red memory remaining amount detection signal 199.

The operation will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 9
Shows a conceptual diagram of PBM15. In FIG. 9A, reference numeral 5002 denotes a copy job that is currently being printed (a job that performs recording according to an image read by the CCD 111).
00 copies are to be copied. After the pages 1 to 150 are read one by one in order, they are printed out, and then the finishing process is performed. Reference numeral 5003 denotes a standby job as a job to be performed next, which is a printer job requested from an external device such as a PC (a job for performing recording according to image data input from a PC or the like) and finishes 60 pages of 50 pages. It is a job. Further, reference numeral 5004 denotes a copy job of 200 pages and 50 copies, and the image of 200 pages is being read. Here, the PBM 15 becomes full before the storage of the image data for 200 pages is completed, and the reading operation is temporarily suspended. The job 5002 is continuously performed during this time, and the 100th copy of the final copy is printed up to pages 1 to 150.At the same time, the output image does not need to be stored, and is sequentially replaced with the image of the waiting job 5004. To go. When the job 5002 ends, the printing of the job 5003 waiting for the order is started.

In FIG. 9B, reference numeral 5005 indicates an empty portion of the PBM 15, and other jobs can be input (stored) as long as the memory capacity permits.

The compression rate prediction will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 8. The image data stored in the DRAMs 151 and 154 of the PBM 15 has been compressed by the compression circuits 150 and 153, and the compression ratio varies depending on the amount and contents of the image data and various processes on the image data. Therefore, the compression ratio prediction circuit 160
Then, the decoration information of the image obtained from the controller 123 via the bus 161 (shading in FIG. 7B, partial movement in FIG. 5, etc.), scaling information (reduced layout in FIG. 6, etc.), ,
Selected density conversion circuits 129 and 130 and gradation conversion circuits 131 and 1
The compression ratio of the image stored in the page memories 119 and 120 to be stored in the PBM 15 is predicted based on the P.32. In other words, the compression ratio prediction circuit 160 performs a simple calculation on the statistic of the image information (the average value of the density of the image having a high correlation with the compression ratio, entropy, etc.) to obtain a prediction value. The calculation or the coefficient used here is changed according to the processing information indicating the contents of various kinds of processing performed on the image data. For example,
The following equation (1) is used to use the average density value of the image for prediction and to further convert it to a predicted value.

Compressed prediction value = image density average value * a + b (1) However, a and b are determined according to the processing content of the image.

The controller 123 determines a and b by referring to a RAM table (not shown), and determines them a and b.
To the compression ratio prediction circuit 160 via As an example, the density average value of the image area is 40, the coefficient a according to the processing is 0.01, b
Is 0.1, the predicted value is obtained by the following equation (2).

Predicted compression value = 40 * 0.01 + 0.1 = 0.5 (2) This represents a prediction that the amount of data after compression is 1/2 of the amount of data before compression. As described above, the compression ratio prediction circuit 160 predicts the compression ratio of the image data stored in the page memories 119 and 120.

Next, the operation of the ADF 200 in the image processing apparatus according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 10 shows ADF2 in the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.
It is STD (state transition diagram) which shows the state transition of 00. In the figure, after the power is turned on and initialization is performed in step S1001, this device enters the normal operation mode in step S1002. In the normal operation mode, the remaining amount detection signals 198 and 199
(See FIG. 8), and based on the predicted value of the compression rate prediction circuit 160 and the amount of image data, there is some free area in the PBM15, but if it is determined that there is no room to store the image data with the predicted compression rate, In S1003, set the status to Almost Full, which will be described later. In this Almost Full state, when it is determined based on the remaining amount detection signals 198 and 199 that the PBM 15 is completely empty, the PBM 15 described later in step S1004
Change the status to Full. When it is determined in this PBM Full state that the PBM 15 has a free space based on the remaining amount detection signals 198 and 199, the process returns to Almost Full in step S1003. If it is determined that the PBM 15 has enough room to store the image data whose compression ratio is predicted in the Almost Full based on the remaining amount detection signals 198 and 199, the process returns to the normal operation mode in step S1002.

The operation in each status will be described in detail below.

[Normal Operation Mode] First, the case of the normal operation mode will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the normal operation mode in step S1002 in FIG. 10, the remaining amount detection signals 198 and 19 are always set in step S1101 in FIG.
A determination process is performed to determine whether there is room in the PBM 15 for storing the image data for which the compression ratio has been predicted based on 9. If there is no room, the process proceeds to the almost full state (step S1003 in FIG. 10). Also, if there is room in step S1101,
While maintaining the normal operation mode, the step S1101 is repeated.
Is performed. As described above, in a state where the PBM 15 has room to store the image data subjected to the compression prediction, the apparatus repeatedly executes the determination processing in step S1101.

In this normal operation mode, the image input signal 14 input to the page memory 119 and the page memory 120 is input.
05 and the operation timing of the image output signal 1406 output from the page memory 119 and the page memory 120 will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. Image input signal 14
05 is linked to document feeding. In FIG. 14, 1, 2, n-
1, n, n + 1, etc. indicate the order of the read originals. From the original scan start (1407), the originals fed one by one by the ADF200 as described above
The image signals from the CCD 111 are sequentially read by 50, pass through the filter 117 or 118, and are stored in the page memory 119 or 120. Thereafter, storage of one page is completed (1401). The page memory 119 or 120 in this state is
Shown in 19. As shown in the figure, when the original is A3 size, the entire area of the page memory 119 or 120 is occupied by the original data of the first page.

Completion of image input for one page (140
In response to 8), the controller 123 starts outputting an image signal from the page memory 119 or 120 to the PBM 15.
In response to the start of this image output (1409), the controller 123 causes the ADF 200 to read the next original at the moving reading reading position 203.
To transport to Thus, the storage of the document data of the second page in the page memory 119 or 120 starts (1403). FIG. 2 shows the page memory 119 or 120 in this state.
0 is shown. As shown in the figure, the area of the page memory 119 or 120 where an image has been output is sequentially opened as an open area 2001.

Further, the manuscript data of the second page is written in the open area 2001, and the page memory 119 or 120 becomes as shown in FIG. 21 at 1404 in FIG. In general, while outputting the n-1th page and inputting the nth page, (1
405), in the page memory 119 or 120, two pages of image data coexist as shown in FIG.

[Transition from Normal Operation to Almost Full Mode] As described above, the controller 123 controls the step S11 in FIG.
In 01, when it is determined that there is a possibility of the PBM Full state based on the image data amount and the remaining amount detection signals 198 and 199 whose compression ratio has been predicted, the state becomes Almost Full in step S1003 in FIG.

The operation of this transition will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. In the figure, n-1, n, n + 1, n + 2
Indicates the order of the read originals. Also, 150l
And 1502 represent input and output of document data to and from the page memory 119 or 120, respectively. In FIG. 15, the PBM 15 operates in the normal operation mode of step S1002 in FIG. 10 described above until there is no more room for one page of the document in the PBM 15 (1504). After (1504) in FIG. 15, since there is no room for storing one page of image data in the PBM 15, the image data currently stored in the page memories 119 and 120 is
Whether or not the image data can be stored in the M15 can be known only by actually storing the image data in the PBM15. This state is Almo
Let's call it st Full. In this state, since it is necessary to confirm whether the storage of the n-th image data in the PBM 15 has actually been completed, the page memory 11 of the image of the next page is entered.
Storage to 9,120 cannot be executed until the confirmation. Therefore,
The ADF 200 shown in FIG. 2 operates to limit the number of sheets fed in the sheet feeding unit 205 per time. That is, the document interval is set longer than the document interval in the normal operation mode (referred to as skip operation or step feed), so that the document can be stopped at any time. At the time of transition to the Almost Full state, the controller 123 in FIG. 4 instructs the ADF 200 to perform this sequence operation, and
This skip operation sequence is continued until the lmost Full state is released.

The sequence in the Almost Full state is not limited to the method of controlling the number of sheets fed per time of the sheet feeding unit 205 of the ADF 200 shown in FIG. It can also be realized by a method of controlling the transport speed.

[Almost Full] Next, the operation in the case of [Almost Full] will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In Almost Full in step S1003 of FIG. 10, it is constantly monitored whether or not there is a room to store the image data compressed and predicted in the PBM15 based on the remaining amount detection signals 198 and 199, and if there is a room, the normal operation mode is entered. And also PBM1
It also monitors whether or not there is free space in 5, and when there is no free space, PBM can be used as described above.
Take the Full state.

That is, when the normal operation mode is shifted to the Almost Full state, it is monitored whether or not there is a room to store the image data compressed and predicted in step S1202. If there is a room, the mode is shifted to the normal operation mode, and there is no room. Step S1
Proceed to 201. In step S1201, it is determined whether or not the PBM 15 has a free space. If there is a free space, the process proceeds to S1202, and if there is no free space, the process moves to PBM Full.

Almost Full in step S1003 of FIG.
In this state, the apparatus repeats alternately while transitioning between step S1201 and step S1202 in FIG.

Next, the operation in Almost Full will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. Step S1 in FIG.
In the normal operation mode in 002, as described in the section of the normal operation based on FIG. 14, the output of the image data of the previous document n from the page memories 119 and 120 starts (140 in FIG. 14).
8), the next document n + 1 is transported to the reading / reading position 203.However, in the Almost Full state in step S1003 in FIG. 10, the image data of n may not be stored in the PBM15. Only after confirming that the image data of n has been reliably stored in the PBM 15, the next n + 1 cannot be read. Therefore, in the Almost Full state, even if the output of the n-th image data is started, the n + 1 original conveyance is not started. That is, in response to the completion of the input of the n-page image (1509), the controller 123 starts outputting the n-page image from the page memory 119 or 120 to the PBM 15. Only upon completion of this image output (1510), the controller 123
At the same time, the area of 0 is opened, and the ADF 200 is instructed to flow the next original n + 1 to the reading / reading position 203. Thus n
The storage of the document data of the +1 page in the page memory 119 or 120 starts. Thereafter, to end the reading of the original and wait for the output of the image data to be repeated alternately, in the Almost Full in Step S1003 of FIG. 10, the paper interval of the original in the ADF 200 is empty, and the productivity is the normal operation in Step S1002 of FIG. It is about half of the mode, but waits for the completion of image data output before the page memories 119 and 120
Since the area is opened, the read image data is not destroyed.

[Transition from Almost Full to PBM Full State] Next, the transition operation from Almost Full to PBM Full state will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The controller 123 sets the PBM 15 to FULL based on the remaining amount detection signals 198 and 199 in the monitoring in step S1201 of FIG.
Is determined, the image data of the page that was finally stored in PBM15 and its management information are sent to PBM15.
After instructing the PBM 15 to discard, the state transits to the PBMFull state in step S1004 in FIG.

This transition operation will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. In the figure, n-1, n are
It indicates the order (page) of the read original. Reference numerals 1601 and 1602 represent input and output of document data to and from the page memories 119 and 120, respectively. Figure
In 16, reference numeral 1603 denotes a point in time when the image data of the document n is being output to the PBM 15 and the PBM 15 is full. PBM
Until there is no room at 15 (1603)
Almost Full operation is performed in Step S1003 of Step 10. Further, after (1603) in FIG. 16, since there is no space for storing the original data in the PBM 15, the PB
Interrupt output to M15. This state is called PBM Full.
The image of the document n in the page memories 119 and 120 is retained.

In this state, since the reading of the original document is stopped until the free space to be actually stored in the PBM 15 is made, the ADF 200 shown in FIG. Wait for the start command from the controller 123.
That is, at the time of shifting to the PBM Full state, the controller 123 of FIG. 4 instructs the ADF 200 to stop the flow-reading image reading sequence operation.

At the time of shifting to the PBM Full sequence, the original n + 1 in the conveyance path is flow-read image reading position 203 in the conveyance path.
Stop in the state before reaching.

Further, even if the original document is being conveyed on the conveyance path,
If scanning is complete and the paper is in a position where it can be ejected, it is ejected without stopping. That is, in FIG. 2, in the one-sided reading mode, the document is made to stand by in the sheet feeding unit 205 and the conveyance path 206. The document on the transport path 207 is discharged. In the double-sided reading mode, the original is made to stand by in the paper supply unit 205 and the transport paths 206 and 208, and the original on the transport path 209 is discharged.

As described above, each transport path can be independently driven, stopped and speed controlled. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 2, the paper feed unit 205 or the transport paths 206 and 208 have independent standby positions 211 and 212, respectively, and implement document standby in the PBM Full mode.

[PBM Full] Next, the operation in the PBM Full state will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 13 and the timing chart of FIG. In step S1004 of FIG.
It is monitored whether or not there is free space in the PBM 15 based on the remaining amount detection signals 198 and 199 at all times. If there is no free space, the process returns to step S1301 in FIG. 13 and the free space exists in the PBM 15 again. It monitors whether it is or not. And PBM1
If it is determined that there is free space in 5, the process transits to Almost Full in step S1003 in FIG. 10, and if it is determined that there is no free space, the process returns to step S1301 to monitor again. Also, PB Full in PBM Full of step S1004P in FIG.
It keeps waiting for free space to be generated in M15 (period 1603 to 1604 in FIG. 16).

The operation of the ADF 200 shown in FIG. 2 is in a stopped state and waits for a restart command from the controller 123.

[Recovery from PBM Full] Next, recovery from PBM Full will be described again with reference to the timing chart of FIG. In step S1301 of FIG. 13, the remaining amount detection signals 198 and 199
When it is determined that free space has occurred in PBM15 based on
The controller 123 starts outputting the image data (the document image n output to the PBM 15 when the PBM Full occurs) stored in the page memories 119 and 120 from the top. As described above, the control mode of the controller 123 has been set to Almost Full in step S1003 in FIG. 10 from the start of the image output. If the free space of the PBM 15 generated at this time is less than one page of the manuscript and the PBM 15 is completely free again, the PBM 15 in FIG.
Wait for BM Full to become more available in PBM15.

The controller 123 shown in FIG. 4 issues a command to restart the operation of the ADF 200 shown in FIG. 2 when the PBM 15 has a free space and is in the Almost Full state, and when the image output storage from the page memories 119 and 120 to the PBM 15 is completed. In response to this instruction, the ADF 200 restarts the feeding of the original document n + 1 waiting in the standby positions 211 and 212 of FIG. 2 and the original document on the original tray, and restarts the reading at the flow reading image reading position 203. .

[Recovery from Almost Full] As described above, the present apparatus which has transitioned from the normal operation mode in step S1002 of FIG. 10 or PBM Full to Almost Full in step S1003 detects the remaining amount in step S1202 of FIG. If it is determined based on the signals 198 and 199 that the image data compressed and predicted in the PBM 15 can be stored, the normal operation mode of step S1002 of FIG. 10 is performed.

Next, the recovery operation from the Almost Full will be described with reference to the timing charts of FIGS. 17 and 18.

FIG. 17 shows the PBM15 reading the nth document.
This shows a state in which a space for an n-th document image has been generated in the PBM 15 due to image reading from the PBM15. In the figure,
n-1, n, n + 1, n + 2 indicate the order of the read originals. Reference numerals 170l and 1702 denote input and output of document data to and from the page memories 119 and 120, respectively. PBM1
Step 5 of FIG. 10 already described until there is no free space capable of storing the image data of one page predicted by compression in FIG.
Almost Full operation in 003 is performed. While reading the n-th document, large image data of another job may cause all output for that image to end, or PBM1
From 1703, when it was determined that a larger free space than expected had occurred in PBM15 because another job that lived in 5 was discarded, etc., the Almost Full state was resolved and the nth image The (n + 1) th original can be read without waiting for the data output to be completed.

FIG. 18 shows that while outputting the nth image data, Alm
This indicates that ost Full has been resolved. n-1, n, n +
l and n + 2 represent the order of the read originals. 1801
And 1802 represent input and output of document data to and from page memories 119 and 120, respectively.

FIG. 23 shows a conceptual diagram of OCU3. In the figure, reference numeral 2301 denotes a CRT screen on which designation from a user is input by touch-type input. The CRT screen 2301 is the same for LCD and FLC. In addition to the touch input, there is a configuration in which input is performed using a pointing device such as a mouse or an input pen. 2302 is a keypad, 2303 is a numeric keypad, 2304
Is a clear key, 2305 is an enter key, 2306 is a stop key, 2307 is a reset key, and 2308 is a start key.

The above is the basic device configuration of the OCU 3, and the display of the display unit, the selection menu, and the settings are shown in FIG. 23, reference numeral 2401 denotes a standard menu screen in the CRT screen 230l of FIG. 2402 designates a book mode (a mode in which an original is set on the platen and scans the original by moving the optical system). 2403 designates a single-sided copy mode in which a moving image is read. 2404 designates both sides in the case of a moving image. Copy mode designation part, 2405 is the copy number designation part, 2406 is the copy magnification designation part, 2407 is the functional device (paper feeder, stapler, saddle stitcher, glue binder, mailbox sorter, etc.) attached to the copier body. A designated portion 2408 is a detailed copy mode selection designation portion for performing more detailed settings in the copy mode.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a screen display state when the device select is designated in the designation portion 2407 for selecting the functional device in FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 2501 denotes a screen. Here, the main body of the copying machine and all accessories attached to the main body are displayed, and a function to be used can be selected. In FIG. 25, reference numeral 2502 denotes a proof tray for discharging a test-printed sheet in order to test-print the finished image after copying on actual transfer paper;
Is a stapler, 2504 is a stacker for storing stapled output paper, 2505 is a saddle stitcher, 2506 is a stacker for storing output paper stitched by the saddle stitcher 2505, 2514 is a glue binder, and 2507 and 2508 are glues. Binding stacker processed with binder 2514, 2509 is a mailbox sorter, 2510
Is an output sorting bin for sorting by the mailbox sorter 2509, and 2511 is a designated portion for returning to the screen 2501. 2512, 25
Reference numerals 13, 2517, and 2515 denote paper feed stages 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Each of the paper feed stages 1 to 4 contains transfer paper set by the user. Reference numeral 2516 denotes a display portion for displaying a flow of output paper sent to each functional device in real time.

Next, FIG. 26 shows that Almost full (Almost
It is a figure showing the screen display state in Full) mode. In this state, since the image is transferred to the PBM 15 while checking the free space of the PBM 15 as described above, the processing speed of the original reading is reduced. In FIG. 27, reference numeral 2701 denotes display information for notifying the user of the status, and reference numeral 2702 denotes a designation portion for canceling the job set by the user in the status.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a screen display state in the PBM full mode. In this case, the image reading is in a suspended state as described above, and the reading process is kept waiting until the PBM full mode is stopped. In FIG. 27, reference numeral 2801 is display information indicating the state, 2804 is the display of the waiting time, 2802 is a designated portion for canceling the job set by the user in that state, 2803 is the original reading in the PBM full state Is the designated part to wait for is started.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a display screen of the OCU 3 when the detailed copy mode selection designation portion 2408 of FIG. 24 is pressed. Here, an extended function setting button 2801, an image processing setting button 2802, a user mode setting button 2803, a copy number input field 2804, a copy magnification input field 2805, and a density adjustment bar 28
06 is displayed and can be set by the user. The number of copies and the copy magnification can be set by keying in desired numerical values using the keyboard 2807. Further, the density can also be set by pointing on the density adjusting bar 2806 with an attached pointing device or the like (not shown).

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a display screen of the OCU 3 when the extended function setting button 2801 of FIG. 28 is pressed. Here, a continuous shooting setting button 2901, a movement setting button 2902, a multiplex setting button 2903, a reduction layout setting button 2904, a frame erasing setting button 2905, and a binding margin setting button 2906 are displayed.

The continuous shooting is a mode in which, for example, an A3 size original is divided into two A4 size sheets and copied, and when the continuous shooting setting button 2901 is pressed, detailed settings relating to continuous shooting can be performed. . The move is a mode in which a part of the document is moved as shown in FIG. 5, and the move setting button
When 2902 is pressed, detailed settings regarding movement can be performed. Multiplexing is a mode in which, for example, one document is overlaid on another document, and when the multiplex setting button 2903 is pressed, detailed settings regarding multiplexing can be performed. The reduced layout is a mode in which, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, a four-page A4 size original is reduced and arranged on one sheet,
When the reduction layout setting button 2904 is pressed, detailed settings regarding the reduction layout can be performed. Border erase is a mode that erases this black shadow, for example, when you copy a book, a black shadow may appear on the outline or center of the page, and if you press the frame erase setting button 2905, detailed information on the frame erase will be displayed. You can configure the settings. The binding margin is a mode for setting the binding margin, and when the binding margin setting button 2906 is pressed, detailed settings regarding the binding margin can be performed.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a display screen of the OCU 3 when the image processing setting button 2802 in FIG. 28 is pressed. Here, marker setting button 3001, trimming / masking setting button 3002, image create setting button 3003, partial processing setting button 3004, color pattern conversion setting button 3005,
Sharpness setting button 3006 is displayed.

The marker process is a mode set when designating an area to be image-processed on a document with a marker pen, and when the marker setting button 3001 is pressed, detailed settings relating to the marker can be performed. Trimming / masking is used, for example, in combination with the above-mentioned designation of the image processing area by the marker, and a mode (copying) only inside the area designated by the marker (trimming) / copying only outside the area designated by the marker (masking) The area is also acceptable), and when the trimming / masking setting button 3002 is pressed, detailed settings relating to trimming / masking can be performed. The image create is a mode related to image editing, and when the image create setting button 3003 is pressed, detailed settings relating to the image create as shown in FIG. 31 described later can be performed. Partial processing is, for example, a mode in which different image processing is performed on the inside of the marker designated area and the outside of the marker designated area (may be a plurality of areas) in combination with the designation of the image processing area by the marker described above
When the partial processing setting button 3004 in FIG. 30 is pressed, detailed settings regarding partial processing can be performed. The color pattern conversion is a mode in which the color of the original is recognized and replaced with a pattern corresponding to the color, and when the color pattern conversion setting button 3005 is pressed, detailed settings relating to the color pattern conversion can be performed. The sharpness is a mode for sharpening the black and white of an image, and when the sharpness setting button 3006 is pressed, detailed settings regarding sharpness can be performed.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a screen when the image create setting button 3003 in FIG. 30 is pressed. Here, shading / shading / shading setting button 3101, italic setting button 3102, contour / shading setting button 3103, negative / positive reversing setting button 3104, mirror image / rotation / symmetry setting button 3105,
The image repeat setting button 3106 is displayed.

The shading / shading / shading is a mode for shading / shading / shading inside the marker designated area, for example, in combination with the above-mentioned area designation by the marker. The image 622 of 7 (b) and the image 623 of FIG. When the half-tone / half-tone / half-tone setting button 3101 is pressed, detailed settings regarding half-tone / half-tone / half-tone can be performed.
Italic is a mode in which an image is obliquely deformed at a specified angle, and when the italic setting button 3102 is pressed, detailed settings relating to italic can be performed. The contour / shading is a mode in which contours such as characters are copied as a line (contour) or the image is shaded (shading). When the contour / shading setting button 3103 is pressed, the contour / shading is performed. You can make detailed settings for. Negative / positive inversion is a mode in which negative / positive inversion is performed inside the marker-designated area, for example, in combination with the area designation by the marker described above.
The effect is as shown in image 621. When the negative / positive inversion setting button 3104 is pressed, detailed settings regarding the negative / positive inversion can be performed. Mirror image / rotation / symmetry is a mode in which the image is inverted upside down (mirror image) or the image is rotated by an arbitrary angle (rotation) or the image is folded back by the side (symmetry). When pressed, detailed settings for mirror image / rotation / symmetry can be made. The image repeat is a mode in which the image in the designated area is repeatedly copied a plurality of times until the paper is full. When the image repeat setting button 3106 is pressed, detailed settings relating to the image repeat can be performed.

The compression rate prediction and its control operation at the time of image editing and scaling, which are the gist of the present invention, will be described below with reference to FIGS.
This will be described using 33.

As described above, the compression rate prediction is calculated based on the statistical value of the image such as the density average value and entropy of the input image. However, since the input original image and the decompressed image output from the PBM 15 are performed using the image information before the prediction is stored in the page memories 119 and 120, the page memory 119 and
It does not always match due to scaling and image decoration performed after 120.

For example, let us consider a case where the density average value of the input image is used for the prediction of the compression rate, and image processing called half-tone dot printing is applied to print out. If the whole image of a normal text original is shaded, the compression rate will decrease, but the page memory 119,12
Since the compression rate is predicted from the image before entering 0, the compression rate is predicted from the image that is not shaded. Therefore, although a compression rate higher than the actual compression rate for the image after the halftone processing is calculated as the predicted value, the compression rate is lower than this in PBM15, the prediction is incorrect, and the image data amount based on the compression rate prediction is the actual value. Since it is less than the amount of data after compression, overflow occurs in the worst case.

Further, as another example, processing relating to scaling such as reduction layout and enlargement continuous shooting is performed from a plurality of images
Since one image or a plurality of images can be formed from one image, if the compression rate prediction value of the input image is used as it is, it may be greatly deviated. However, some of these editing operations do not affect the compression rate prediction. For example, when the image is rotated 180 degrees, neither the compression rate prediction nor the actual compression rate changes.

Therefore, in the case of "detailed setting" described above, the compression rate prediction is actually performed by dividing the compression rate prediction and the compression rate prediction as shown in the table of FIG. 32 and switching the control. Do not fall below the compression ratio of. Of course, the setting contents of the table shown in FIG. 32 are examples, and it is possible to set them in more detail if necessary.
For example, with respect to the scaling of an image, prediction is not uniformly performed, but prediction is performed for scaling of 95 to 105%, and other predictions are not performed. In addition, the items that are divided into whether to predict or not can be set freely by the user,
Furthermore, regardless of the table of FIG. 32, it is possible to select whether to forcibly predict or not.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing the operation control procedure of the compression rate prediction performed by the compression rate prediction circuit 160 in the image processing apparatus according to this embodiment. In the figure, in step S3301, the decoration information / magnification information table is referred to, and in step S3302, it is determined whether or not there is decoration and scaling processing that does not use prediction using the table as shown in FIG. Then, decoration without prediction, if there is no scaling process compression rate prediction is performed to step S3303, and if there is no decoration or scaling process without prediction, compression rate prediction is not performed, so the process proceeds to step S3304. .

In step S3303, the compression rate prediction is performed as described above, and the prediction result is sent to the controller 123 by the bus 122.
After this is transmitted, this processing operation is ended. Further, in step S3304, the compression rate is not predicted, and after notifying the controller 123 via the bus 122, this processing operation is ended. When the compression rate prediction is not performed, the compression rate prediction is performed by controlling the device using a predetermined fixed value (for example, the data amount when the compression process is not performed = 1) instead of the compression rate prediction value. It is prevented that the image data amount based on is less than the image data amount after the actual compression rate. This prevents memory overflow and loss of image data.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the basic configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment is the same as FIGS. 1 to 4 and 8 of the above-described first embodiment,
A description will be given using these figures.

FIG. 34 is a flow chart showing the operation control procedure of the compression rate prediction performed by the compression rate prediction circuit 160 in the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
In the figure, in step S3401, the compression rate prediction circuit 160 always performs compression rate prediction regardless of image decoration, scaling, etc.
The prediction result is transmitted to the controller 123 via the bus 122. In the next step S3302, the controller 123 determines whether or not there is decoration and scaling processing that does not use prediction using the table shown in FIG. Then, if there is no decoration that does not use prediction, or if there is no scaling processing, the compression rate prediction result is used, so go to step S3403.On the other hand, if there is decoration that does not use prediction or scaling processing, the compression rate prediction result is not used. Each proceeds to step S3404.

In step S3403, the device control is performed as described above using the compression rate prediction result, and then this processing operation is ended. In step S3404, the compression rate prediction result is not used, and the device is controlled using a predetermined fixed value (for example, the amount of data when compression processing is not performed) instead of the compression rate prediction value. After preventing the amount of image data based on the compression rate prediction from falling below the amount of image data actually compressed, this processing operation is ended.

[0093]

As described above in detail, according to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, when various image processing such as decoration, scaling, editing, etc. in which the compression rate is difficult to predict is performed, the compression rate prediction value Is not used, memory overflow or data loss will not occur based on incorrect compression rate prediction.
That is, specifically, the compression rate predicted value must be a value slightly lower than the actual compression rate. If the compression rate prediction value becomes unreliable during decoration, scaling, and editing, it becomes difficult to satisfy the above conditions. In particular, if the predicted compression rate exceeds the actual compression rate, overflow may occur. Therefore, in such a case, by using the predetermined value (worst value) without using the compression rate prediction value, it is possible to avoid the loss of data due to the overflow which is the worst state.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side view showing a configuration of an automatic document feeder in the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a document feeding operation of the automatic document feeding apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG.

5 is a diagram showing an example of image processing in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG.

6 is a diagram showing an example of image processing in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG.

7 is a diagram of image processing in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG.
7 is a diagram showing another example different from FIG.

8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer buffer memory (PBM) in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing movement of a job in the printer buffer memory.

10 is a state transition diagram (STD) of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG.
It is.

11 is a row chart showing an operation control procedure in a normal operation mode of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a row chart showing an operation control procedure of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 when Almost Full.

13 is a row chart showing an operation control procedure of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 during PBM Full.

14 is a time chart showing image input / output timing with respect to a page memory in a normal operation mode of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG.

15 is a time chart showing the input / output timing of an image with respect to the page memory at the time of transition from the normal operation mode of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 to the Almost Full time.

16 is a PB when Almost Full of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG.
7 is a time chart showing the input / output timing of an image with respect to the page memory at the time of transition between the time of M Full and the time of M Full.

17 is a time chart showing the input / output timing of an image with respect to the page memory at the time of recovery from the Almost Full state of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 18 is a time chart showing the input / output timing of an image with respect to the page memory at the time of recovery from the Almost Full state of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

19 is a conceptual diagram showing a page memory when the image 1 occupies the page memory in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG.

20 is a conceptual diagram showing a page memory when image 1 starts to be output from the page memory in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 21 is a conceptual diagram showing a page memory when image 1 and image 2 coexist in the page memory in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG.

22 is a conceptual diagram showing a page memory in the case where image n-1 and image n coexist in the page memory in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG.

23 is a conceptual diagram showing an operation unit in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG.

24 is a conceptual diagram showing an operation screen of an operation unit in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG.

25 is a conceptual diagram showing an operation screen of an operation unit in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG.

26 is a conceptual diagram showing an operation screen of an operation unit in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 27 is an Alm of an operation unit in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG.
It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the operation screen at the time of ost Full.

28 is a diagram showing a display example of an operation screen when a setting button "make detailed settings" of the operation unit of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is pressed.

29 is a diagram showing a display example of an operation screen when a setting button called "extended function" of the operation unit in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is pressed.

30 is a diagram showing a display example of an operation screen when a setting button called "image processing" of the operation unit in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is pressed.

31 is a diagram showing a display example of an operation screen when a setting button called "image create" of the operation unit in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is pressed.

32 is a diagram showing a setting table in which prediction is performed and prediction is not performed in the image processing apparatus illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing an operation control procedure of compression rate prediction in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing a compression ratio prediction operation control procedure in the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Image processing device (copier) 2 Image reading unit (reader unit) 3 Operating unit (OCU) 7 Finishing device 11 Image processing unit 15 PBM (image storage means) 111 CCD 112 A / D conversion circuit 113 Shading / color space conversion Circuit 114 Two-color separation circuit 117 Filter 118 Filter 119 Page memory 120 Page memory 123 Controller 125 Magnification / resolution conversion circuit 126 Magnification / resolution conversion circuit 127 Image decoration circuit 128 Image decoration circuit 129 Density conversion circuit 130 Density conversion circuit 131 Floor Tonal number conversion circuit 132 Gradation number conversion circuit 150 Compression circuit 151 DRAM 152 Expansion circuit 153 Compression circuit 154 DRAM 156 Expansion circuit 157 Remaining amount detection circuit 158 Remaining amount detection circuit 160 Compression rate prediction circuit 165 Selector circuit 166 Selector circuit 200 Automatic manuscript Feeder (ADF) 201 Original tray 202 First mirror 203 Scanning original reading position 204 Scanning reading position in book mode 205 Paper feed unit 206 Conveying path 207 Conveying path 208 Sending passage 209 transport path 210 lens 250 Scanner 805 comparator 806 comparator 807 the AND gate 808 lamp control driver

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masao Watanabe 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hiroyoshi Yoshida 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Within the corporation

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An arithmetic processing means for arithmetically processing an image signal after exposing an original and photoelectrically converting it, an image information compressing means for compressing the image information arithmetically processed by the arithmetic processing means, and the image information compression. Compressed data storage means for storing compressed data compressed by means, setting input means for setting various image processing modes, and image information compression rate prediction means for predicting the compression rate of the image information compression means from an image signal. Switching means for switching between permission and prohibition of the operation of the image information compression rate prediction means, and the operation of the image information compression rate prediction means is prohibited by the switching means according to the setting of the setting input means. An image processing device characterized by the above. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting of the setting input unit is a copy magnification setting. 3. The setting of the setting input means is image decoration setting such as shading, negative / positive inversion, image repeat, italic, contour extraction, symmetry, rotation, mirror image, and color pattern conversion. The image processing device described in 1. 4. The setting of the setting input means is image editing setting such as moving synthesis / masking / trimming of an arbitrary area designation area, layout, and the like.
The image processing device described in 1. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting of the setting input unit is a predetermined density setting. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the image information compression rate predicting unit is switched to a permitting state by the switching unit only when the setting of the setting input unit is a copy number setting. . 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting of the setting input unit can be selected by a user. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage of the compressed data in the compressed data storage means is controlled based on the prediction of the compression rate by the image information compression prediction means. 9. An arithmetic processing means for arithmetically processing an image signal after exposing an original and photoelectrically converting the original, an image information compressing means for compressing the image information arithmetically processed by the arithmetic processing means, and the image information compression. Compressed data storage means for storing compressed data compressed by means, setting input means for setting various image processing modes, and image information compression rate prediction means for predicting the compression rate of the image information compression means from an image signal. A determination unit that determines whether the operation of the image information compression rate prediction unit is valid or invalid, and the determination unit sets the operation of the image information compression rate prediction unit to the invalid state according to the setting of the setting input unit. An image processing device characterized by: