JPH0983820A - Image information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allocate an optimum recording color to each picture element even when image information for 2-colors recording generated by an external device corresponds to two recording colors other than a white level per one picture element. SOLUTION: 2-colors external image information 51 generated by a host computer or the like is given to an external device interface section 39, in which image information formed by superposing two recording colors other than white information is converted into 1st internal image information 55 consisting of density data of one recording color only and stored in an image storage memory and a printer section 17 conducts 2-colors recording. Thus, the recording by the print section 17 in which one recording color corresponds to one picture element is attained similarly to the case with 2nd internal image information 61 based on the information read by an image sensor section 57 in the processor.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image information processing apparatus for recording image information such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a copying machine, etc., and in particular, one pixel corresponds to one recording color. The present invention relates to an image information processing apparatus that employs a recording method in which image information is recorded in two colors.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A certain copying machine for two-color recording can read an image in two colors by a one-dimensional image sensor and perform two-color recording by using a recording unit such as a laser printer. Here, for example, black and red toners are used for two-color recording, but the recording color is not limited to this. When a two-color recording copier is used, for example, a specific area of an image recorded in black is surrounded by a red frame to emphasize this area, or a specific image portion such as a company mark or seal is blue or red. Can be represented by one additional color. In other words, it is possible to create effective documents and drawings with two-color recording, except for special images that should be recorded with a color copier or color printer at a high cost and time, and at high speed and low cost. These recorded images can be obtained.

In a copying machine such as a laser printer which temporarily converts an image into an electric signal for recording, recording is performed by using an electric signal obtained by reading by an image reading unit in the apparatus. Not only can it be performed, but it is also possible to capture an image by capturing an electric signal of a similar format from the outside. Therefore, recently, an apparatus for attaching an external input terminal to such a digital copying machine and connecting it to an external apparatus for creating image information to print out an image has been developed.

In this type of external device typified by a personal computer or a workstation, colorization of image information has been remarkably advanced. The color image information adopted by such an external device has density data for each of the three primary colors. In order to simplify the explanation, consider a case where each of the three primary colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) is represented by a binary value. It is assumed that there is a copying machine that reproduces only black and that image information created in the three primary colors is input. When the image information of the three primary colors is simply input in the form of a logical sum, the pixels in which R, G, or B colors are present are printed uniformly in black.
It is not possible to distinguish these colors in halftones.

Therefore, when such an external device is conventionally connected to a monochromatic copying machine, the external device converts the color image information into black and white or monochrome image information and supplies it to the copying machine for printout. Is to be done.

The same applies to the case where binary color image information is supplied from an external device to a copying machine capable of expressing gradations for each of the two colors. It was designed to be converted into image information for single-color recording. However, if a copying machine capable of two-color recording is capable of recording with black and red recording colors, the operator can select whether to perform single-color recording with black or red. It is often possible to do so.

[0007]

In the case where an external device is connected to a copying machine capable of two-color recording for printout as described above, this external device has heretofore been used to temporarily print color image information in monochrome. The method of converting into image information and inputting this was adopted. For this reason, even a copying machine that can perform two-color recording can only perform single-color recording, and at most can change the recording color to a chromatic color other than black. There is one additional reason why a copying machine capable of two-color recording does not actively perform two-color recording.

FIG. 13 shows the principle of a typical recording method in which two-color recording is performed by the electrostatic photography recording method. Around the photosensitive drum 211 of this copying machine, a first charge corotron 212 ₁ and a first developing device 213 are provided.
₁ , the second charge corotron 212 ₂ , the second developing device 213 ₂ , the transfer corotron 214, and the cleaning device 215 are arranged in this order.
The photoconductor drum 211 rotates in the order of arrangement thereof, that is, clockwise at a constant speed.

First, the first charge corotron 212₁
Will, for example, evenly apply a positive charge to the drum surface.
Charge Corotron 212₁And the first developing device 213
₁The first light corresponding to the first recording color in the drum area between
Beam 216₁Is irradiated. This gives a positive charge
A first electrostatic latent image that disappears corresponding to the image is formed.
This first electrostatic latent image is formed by the toner of the first recording color.
First developing device 213 ₁Developed, the first toner image is
Created. Next, this drum surface is the second charge roller
Tron 212₂To evenly charge the opposite polarity
It is. In this example, a negative charge will be given. This
Second charge corotron 212₂And the second developing device
213₂Corresponding to the second recording color in the drum area between
Second light beam 216₂Is irradiated. This makes it negative
Form a second electrostatic latent image in which the charge of
Is done. This second electrostatic latent image is the toner of the second recording color.
By the second developing device 213₂Developed in the second
A gnar image is created.

As described above, the toner images of two colors are formed on the photosensitive drum 211 in one rotation. In this toner image, the paper 219 conveyed in the direction of the arrow 218 along the conveyance path 217 indicated by the broken line is the transfer corotron 214.
Is transferred to it as it passes through. And after this,
The toner is fixed by the fixing device 221 and discharged onto the discharge tray 222. The toner particles remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 211 are cleaned by the cleaning device 215. Then, the charging by the first charge corotron 212 ₁ is performed again for the next two-color recording. The same applies hereinafter.

In such a recording system, that portion of the drum surface where the toner particles are adhered by the _first developing device 213 ₁ cannot be exposed by the _second light beam 216 ₂ . That is, even if the pixels in this portion are originally irradiated with the _second light beam 2162 and the charges should be lost, the charges cannot be lost. As described above, this recording method has an advantage that two-color recording can be performed only by rotating the photosensitive drum 211 once, but one pixel portion is recorded by superposing toner particles of two recording colors. Is impossible to do. Some other recording methods do not allow a plurality of recording colors to be mixed in one pixel, and the situation is the same in these recording methods.

In most image information created by an external device such as a personal computer, each recording color is independently expressed in binary or multi-value for each pixel, and one pixel corresponds to only one recording color. In general, it does not adopt an expression format that does not prevent it. One of the reasons for the difference in the expression format of the image information is that the image information for single-color recording is input even to a copying machine which has the ability to record two colors.
Single color recording was done. However, this means that even color image information created while assuming an image of two colors by an external device such as a personal computer is expressed in a single color, and the visual effect cannot be sufficiently achieved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image information processing apparatus capable of recording with two colors even image information for two-color recording created by an external device such as a personal computer.

Another object of the present invention is to obtain an optimum 1-pixel image even when the image information for 2-color recording created by an external device corresponds to two recording colors other than the white level per pixel. An object of the present invention is to provide an image information processing device capable of assigning one recording color to each pixel.

[0015]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, (a) external image information representing the density data of the first recording color and the density data of the second recording color for each pixel is received. External image information receiving means, and (b) recording color selection means for selecting only one recording color for each pixel in which the first and second recording colors other than the white level in this external image information are mixed. (C) For each pixel in which the first and second recording colors other than the white level are mixed, the recording color selected by the recording color selecting means and its density level are adopted, and for the other pixels, white An internal image information creating unit that creates internal image information that uses a recording color other than the level and its density level, and (d) Input the internal image information created by this internal image information creating unit to record colors for each pixel. And its concentration level It is provided to the image information processing apparatus and a two-color recording unit for creating a recording image corresponding to.

That is, according to the first aspect of the invention, the external image information sent from the external device such as a personal computer is received by the external image information receiving means. This external image information is information representing the density data of the first recording color and the density data of the second recording color for each pixel. As described above, since the external image information has two kinds of density data for each pixel, in a pixel in which both density data are other than the white level, colors other than the color represented by one color by mixing two colors Will represent the color of. This is different from the internal image information in which the image information is defined for each pixel only with one recording color and its density data without presuming color mixture, and cannot be used for recording as it is on the image information processing apparatus side. . Therefore, in this image information processing apparatus, the recording color selection means selects only one of the recording colors for the pixel for which color mixing is a problem. Such selection may be designated by an input means such as a keyboard, or the device may be selected by a predetermined logic.

The internal image information creating means adopts the recording color selected by the recording color selecting means and its density level for each pixel in which the first and second recording colors other than the white level are mixed. For other pixels, internal image information is created that uses the recording color and the density level other than the white level. The two-color recording unit inputs the internal image information converted in this way and creates a recorded image corresponding to the recording color and its density level for each pixel.

According to the second aspect of the invention, (a) external image information receiving means for receiving external image information representing the density data of the first recording color and the density data of the second recording color for each pixel. (B) recording color selection means for selecting only one recording color for each pixel in which the first and second recording colors other than the white level in this external image information are mixed, and (c) the first Density data conversion means for converting the respective gradations of the density data of the recording color and the density data of the second recording color in correspondence with the desired gradation, and (d) the first and second other than the white level. For each pixel in which recording colors are mixed, the recording color selected by the recording color selecting means and the density level after being converted by the density data converting means are adopted, and for the other pixels, recording other than the white level is performed. Color and its concentration day Internal image information creating means for creating internal image information that adopts the density level converted by the converting means, and (e) Inputting the internal image information created by this internal image information creating means and recording it for each pixel. An image information processing apparatus is provided with a two-color recording unit that creates a recorded image according to a color and its density level.

That is, in the invention described in claim 2, the external image information is converted into the internal image information as in the invention described in claim 1, but a density data converting means is newly provided. The density data converting means includes the density data of the first recording color and the second density data of the second recording color.
The respective gradations of the density data of the recording color are converted so as to correspond to the desired gradations. For example, assuming that the density data forming the external image information has two gradations of "0" and "1", the density data forming the internal image information of this image information processing apparatus is "00", "01", "10". Assuming that there are four gradations of “” and “11”, density data “0” may be simply converted to “00” and “1” to “11”. It is also possible to carry out the conversion in a one-to-one correspondence with any of the density data of 1. In this way, the internal image information in which one recording color and its density data are set for each pixel is created by the internal image information creating means, and the corresponding two-color printing unit carries out printing according to this.

According to the third aspect of the invention, (a) external image information receiving means for receiving external image information representing the density data of the first recording color and the density data of the second recording color for each pixel. (B) recording color selection means for selecting only one recording color for each pixel in which the first and second recording colors other than the white level in the external image information are mixed, and (c) white level The recording color selected by the recording color selecting means and its density level are adopted for each pixel in which the first and second recording colors other than the above are mixed, and the recording color other than the white level is used for the other pixels. A first internal image information creating unit that creates first internal image information that uses the density level, (d) an image reading unit that reads an image, and (e) an image obtained by the image reading unit. Each pixel based on information A second internal image information creating means for creating second internal image information representing one recording color and one density data and (f) first and second internal image information creating means were created. The image information processing apparatus is provided with an internal image information selecting means for selecting any of the image information, and (g) a two-color recording section for recording an image using the image information selected by the internal image information selecting means. Let

That is, according to the third aspect of the invention, the external image information is converted into the internal image information as in the first aspect of the invention. In the invention according to claim 3, the internal image information converted in this way is referred to as first internal image information. The second internal image information is created based on the image information obtained by the image reading unit included in the image information processing apparatus itself.
For example, a two-color copying machine includes such an image reading unit and a two-color recording unit. The internal image information selecting means selects one of the image information created by the first and second internal image information creating means and outputs it to the two-color recording section. Therefore, claim 3
According to the described invention, the image information processing apparatus having a copying function can accept external image information having a different image information format, and can also perform two-color recording for this.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, (a) external image information receiving means for receiving external image information representing the density data of the first recording color and the density data of the second recording color for each pixel. (B) area discrimination means for discriminating whether or not each pixel in which the first and second recording colors other than the white level in the external image information are mixed belongs to a character area in which characters are arranged, (C) A recording color priority selecting means for preferentially selecting a recording color determined by the area determining means as a character area among pixels in which the first and second recording colors other than the white level in the external image information are mixed. (D) For each pixel in which the first and second recording colors other than the white level are mixed, the recording color selected by the recording color priority selecting means and its density level are adopted, and for the other pixels, Recording colors other than white level The internal image information creating means for creating the internal image information adopting the density level of (4), and (e) the internal image information created by the internal image information creating means is inputted and the recording color and its density level are changed for each pixel. And a two-color recording unit for creating a recorded image.

That is, in the invention described in claim 4, as in the invention described in claim 1, the external image information is converted into the internal image information. At this time, in a pixel in which both density data in the external image information is other than the white level, two colors are mixed and represent a color other than the color represented by one color. You must select the recording color of. For this purpose, the recording color priority selecting means is provided for this purpose, and the recording color is automatically selected. The recording color priority selecting means preferentially selects the recording color which is discriminated as the character portion by the area discriminating means among the pixels in which the first and second recording colors other than the white level in the external image information are mixed. ing.

The determination as to whether it is the character portion or the other area can be made, for example, by checking how the density data changes in position. By giving priority to the recording color determined to be the character portion, it is possible to prevent the loss of important image information. Depending on the device, not only the characters but also the recording color forming the portion including the line drawing may be prioritized. The priority recording colors for the overlapping pixels may be determined for each area to some extent and determined for each area, or one page may be uniformly set as one recording color. When the recording color is determined for each pixel in this manner, the recording corresponding to this is performed in the two-color recording unit.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, (a) external image information receiving means for receiving external image information representing the density data of the first recording color and the density data of the second recording color for each pixel. (B) density level comparison means for comparing the density levels of the pixels in which the first and second recording colors other than the white level in the external image information are mixed, and (c) other than the white level in the external image information. Recording color priority selecting means for preferentially selecting a recording color having a higher density level among pixels in which the first and second recording colors are mixed, and (d) first and second other than the white level. The recording color selected by the recording color priority selecting means and its density level are adopted for each pixel in which the recording colors are mixed, and the recording color other than the white level and its density level are adopted for the other pixels. Create internal image information The internal image information creation unit that, (e)
The image information processing apparatus is provided with a two-color recording unit that inputs the internal image information created by the internal image information creating means and creates a recorded image corresponding to the recording color and its density level for each pixel.

That is, in the invention described in claim 5, the external image information is converted into the internal image information as in the invention described in claim 1. At this time, in a pixel in which both density data in the external image information is other than the white level, two colors are mixed to represent a color other than the color represented by one color, and therefore a recording color priority selection means is prepared. The recording color is automatically selected. The recording color priority selection means according to claim 5 compares the density levels of two recording colors for a pixel in which the first and second recording colors other than the white level in the external image information are mixed, and determines which one is higher. The recording color is selected with priority. For example, when two recording colors, black and red, are used and the black color is light and the red color is dark, the red recording color is used in the pixel portion. As a result, an image that is more natural in appearance is recorded than when this portion is recorded in one black color.

When two recording colors of the corresponding pixel have the same density level, a priority color may be determined in advance and the recording color may be selected, or the peripheral recording colors may be checked. Then, the same recording color as this or a recording color other than this may be selected. In the latter case, for example, when a character is drawn in a relatively light black color on a red background color, there is an advantage that the character information can be used for recording. When the recording color is determined for each pixel in this manner, the recording corresponding to this is performed in the two-color recording unit.

[0028]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0029]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of a printing system using an image information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This printing system is a device for printing out a large drawing, and includes an image forming section 11 for forming an image and printing out the formed image, an image reading processing section 12 for reading and processing the image, and It is composed of an image reading processing unit 12 and a host computer unit 14 connected one-to-one via a communication cable 13.
Here, the image information processing device is a part excluding the host computer unit 14.

The image forming section 11 is composed of a sheet feeding device 16 for feeding a recording sheet, and a printing section 17 for printing on the sheet sent from here by using a laser beam. . Further, it is possible to connect the paper folding device 10 for folding the printed paper. Printed paper 18
Are discharged to the upper portion of the image forming unit 11 or the upper portion of the paper folding device 10. Image reading processing unit 12
Is a reading unit 19 that reads a relatively large sheet-shaped document (not shown) created in some way in two colors, and an operation panel 21 that reads an image and performs other processing.
It has. A display such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display is attached to the operation panel 21 so that necessary information can be displayed. In addition, inside the image reading processing unit 12, a CPU (central processing unit) is arranged, and a memory such as a system memory and an image storage memory is provided. Further, the image reading processing unit 12 incorporates an external device interface circuit for connecting to an external device, and one end of a communication cable 13 is connected thereto. In addition to the communication cable 13 for channel connection, the image reading processing unit 12 includes LA such as Ethernet.
Cables forming N (local area network) may be connected.

The host computer section 14 connected to the other end of the communication cable 13 is a host computer 2 such as a personal computer or a workstation.
3, a CRT display 24, a keyboard 25, and a mouse 26 as a pointing device. A program for creating various drawings is incorporated in the host computer 23, and a desired drawing is created on the CRT display 24 while using the keyboard 25 and the mouse 26. These drawings are stored in a storage device such as a magnetic disk inside the host computer 23, and are expanded in the bit map memory as needed. Then, it is sent to the image reading processing unit 12 via the communication cable 13.

FIG. 2 shows the overall circuit configuration of this printing system. As described above, the image reading processing unit 12 is a CP for controlling the entire system.
Equipped with U31. The CPU 31 is connected to each unit via a bus 32 such as a data bus, and performs various controls. Of these, the system memory 34 is a memory that stores various programs necessary for controlling the system. The work memory 35 is a memory that stores data temporarily required for various controls. The non-volatile memory 36 has a structure in which a RAM is backed up by a battery, for example, and stores data that needs to be held in a state where the power supply of the device is cut off.
The image storage memory 37 is a memory used for developing an image for printing.

The internal device interface section 38 is composed of one or a plurality of interface circuits for connecting various internal devices to the bus 32. The reading unit 19, the operation panel 21, the paper feeding device 16, and the printing unit 17 described above are connected here. The external device interface section 39 is connected to the host computer 23 in this embodiment. In this embodiment, SCSI (Small Computer Syste
m Interface). The timer circuit 40 is a timer including a counter circuit. This circuit can also be realized by software.

In the printing system having such a configuration, when the power button (not shown) on the operation panel 21 arranged in the image reading processing section 12 is pressed, the system is powered on. At the same time, power is supplied to each unit, and the image forming unit 1
The heating of the heater of the fixing device (not shown) 1 is started, and warm-up is performed. When the warm-up is completed, the image can be printed out. The system is initially set to the copy mode, and the copy function can be executed in this state. That is, when the operator sets a document (not shown) in the reading unit 19 and starts reading the document, the read image data is accumulated in the image storage memory 37 after the color and density data are determined for each pixel. . Further, a sheet of a size obtained from the size of the original document and the reduction ratio is sent out from the paper feeding device 16 and sent to the printing unit 17.

The printing section 17 has the same structure as the printing section of the copying machine shown in FIG. 13, and uses a laser beam as a light beam. The description of this part is redundant and will not be repeated. As shown in FIG. 1, the paper 18 on which recording (copying) is completed is discharged to the discharge tray arranged above the image forming unit 11.

FIG. 3 shows the control of switching from the copy mode to the print mode in this printing system. When the fixing device reaches the fixing temperature and the image forming unit 11 is ready to print out (ready) (step S101; Y), the CPU 31 (FIG. 2) sets the system to the copy mode and displays “copy” on the operation panel 21. You can do it. ”(Step S10)
2). After this, the operator reads the original document such as the drawing by the reading unit 1.
Set it to 9, read the image, and set the image to 1
It can be printed out in one or two colors. C
The PU 31 monitors whether or not the copy operation of the original by such a copy function is started (step S103). Then, when the time T ₁ has elapsed without starting the copy operation (step S104; Y), the mode is changed from the copy mode to the print mode (step S105).

On the other hand, when the copying operation is started by the operator starting the reading of the document before the time T ₁ has elapsed (step S103; Y), the printing unit 1
When the printout by the series of copying functions according to step 7 is completed (step S106; Y), step S1 is performed again.
Returning to 03, the start of the next copying operation is monitored. In this way, when the time T ₁ has elapsed without performing any copying operation (step S104; Y), the mode is changed to the print mode as described above. The time T
₁ is set to 30 seconds, for example. Since 30 seconds is a relatively short time, the system of this embodiment is not provided with a button for manual operation for changing from the copy mode to the print mode.

FIG. 4 shows a display example in the print mode as an example of the display contents of the operation panel.
The display unit 41 of the operation panel 21 of the image reading processing unit 12 shown in FIG. 1 is configured by a touch panel, and various information is displayed here. In the uppermost area 42, the status of the device is displayed. In this example,
"You can print. When copying, [copy mode]
Please press the button "is displayed. This state is the standby state of the apparatus, and the image information can be transferred from the host computer section 14 shown in FIG. 1 to perform printing, and the reading section 19 shown in FIG. You can also do it. However, it is necessary to set the "copy mode" to perform copying. At this time, it is necessary to request the change to the copy mode by pressing the copy mode button 43 arranged at the lower right of the display unit 41. When this request is made, the copy reservation state is entered and the copy mode is entered under predetermined conditions.

In the second area 44 from the top of the display unit 41, the mode in which the device is currently set is displayed. Here, the print mode is set. In a frame 45 below the second area 44, an icon (pictogram) 46 for visually identifying the set mode is displayed. Here, an icon for the print mode is shown. In the uppermost area 47 on the right side of the frame 45, the number of accumulated print jobs (here, six) is displayed. Further, below that, the local setting status of paper folding is displayed in the print mode. Here, "fan" of "folding type" means that the bellows is folded like fanfold paper.

FIGS. 5 and 6 compare the contents of image information (external image information) input from the host computer in this embodiment with the image information (internal image information) handled by the printing unit of this embodiment. is there. Here, it is assumed that both the host computer 23 and the image information processing apparatus having the reading unit 19 and the printing unit 17 shown in FIG. 1 use two colors, black and red, as recording colors. In this embodiment, when converting the external image information into the internal image information, it is possible to select either the red priority mode in which red is preferentially recorded or the black priority mode in which black is preferentially recorded. Such mode selection is
This is performed by operating the operation panel 21 shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 shows comparison between external image information and internal image information in the red priority mode. External image information is
Each pixel is composed of 2-bit data (1 bit for each of red data P _R and black data P _B ). On the other hand, the internal image information is composed of 3-bit data (color flag CF, first data D ₁ and second data D ₂ ). Both red data P _R and black data P _B are 2
It is value data, and the value "0" represents the non-printing state, and the other values "1" represent the printing state. Color flag CF
Indicates which recording color is selected for each pixel. When the value of the color flag CF is "0", it means that the black recording color is selected, and when it is the value of "1", it means that the red recording color is selected.

The first and second data D ₁ and D ₂ are for expressing the density of the selected recording color in four steps.
When these are "00", the print density is the lowest (bright) such as completely white. On the contrary, when it is "11", the print density is highest (dark) such as completely black. Since FIG. 5 shows the red priority mode, when both the red data P _R and the black data P _B are “1”, red has priority, the color flag CF becomes “1”, and printing in red is performed. It will be.

FIG. 6 shows the comparison between the external image information and the internal image information in the black priority mode. In this case, when both the red data P _R and the black data P _B are “1”, black has priority. That is, the color flag CF becomes "0", and black printing is performed with priority.

Since the present embodiment is premised on that there are only black and red recording colors, the color flag CF is composed of 1 bit. Depending on the printing unit 17, a number of developing devices are prepared for each recording color, and it is possible to select and use a desired two-color developing device from these. In such a case, the color flag CF is composed of 2 bits or 3 bits or more depending on the number of recording colors. In this embodiment, the external image information is composed of 2 bits per pixel as described above, but the internal image information is composed of 3 bits, which is larger than this. The following Table 1 shows such a general difference between the external image information and the internal image information.

[0046]

[Table 1]

As described above, the external image information generally has a data format different from that of the internal image information. The data format of the external image information is the CAD (Comp
uterAided Design) data is set on the premise that data is exchanged between devices. Therefore, a standard data format is set in the field handling the data. On the other hand, since the internal image information is applied when both the reading unit and the printing unit are provided in the device, the data format of the internal image information can be freely determined. Therefore, there may be many differences between the two pieces of information, and it is necessary to convert the external image information in order to obtain the internal image information. Hereinafter, the internal image information obtained by this conversion is referred to as first internal image information,
The image information read by the reading unit 19 shown in FIG.
The internal image information created for printing in 7 will be referred to as second internal image information.

FIG. 7 shows an overall circuit configuration of a portion for processing image information of the image information processing apparatus of this embodiment. External device interface section 39 also shown in FIG.
The external image information 51 is supplied in 8-bit units from the host computer 39, is input to the external interface circuit 52, and the 2-unit information is merged to output 16-bit external image information 53. The external image information 53 is input to the image data conversion circuit 54 and converted into the first internal image information 55. The first internal image information 55 is once stored in the image storage memory 37 and printed by the printing unit 17. This is signal processing based on the external image information 51 sent from the host computer 39. As a technique for inputting image information for each 8 bits and converting data for each pixel, there is a technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-150763.

Since the image information processing apparatus of this embodiment is also provided with the reading unit 19, signal processing by this is also possible. The reading unit 19 includes an image sensor unit 57 including a one-dimensional image sensor 57 and a scanning mechanism (not shown) thereof, and an image processing unit 59 that performs predetermined image signal processing on image information 58 obtained from the image sensor unit 57. Has been done. The second internal image information 61 output from the image processing unit 59 is temporarily stored in the image storage memory 37 exclusively with the first internal image information 55, and is similarly printed by the printing unit 17. Here, “exclusively” means that either one of the recording is performed when the image information processing apparatus is set to the copy mode and the print mode is set. This is explained in FIG.

FIG. 8 specifically shows an image data conversion circuit for converting external image information into first internal image information. The image data conversion circuit 71 includes a monochrome conversion circuit 72 that performs conversion processing when the input external image information is monochrome (single color), and a two-color conversion circuit 73 when the external image information has two colors. Three registers 74
˜76.

Here, the off pattern register 74 is a level setting register for expressing the first internal image information by one of four density levels when the external image information is "0" (off). is there. Also, the on-pattern register 75
Is a level setting register for expressing the first internal image information when the external image information is "1" (ON) in the same manner as any one of four density levels. Off pattern data 77 and on pattern data 78 output from off pattern register 74 and on pattern register 75
Is supplied not only to the two-color conversion circuit 73 but also to the monochrome conversion circuit 72. For this reason, each of them is composed of a 3-bit register, and one bit of the register represents the corresponding recording color in monochrome. The remaining two bits of the three bits will represent any of the four density levels.

The priority color register 76 has a 1-bit structure, and in the present embodiment, represents the priority color when the density levels of the two recording colors are both "1". The priority color data 79 output from the priority color register 76 is supplied only to the two-color conversion circuit 73 that needs to select a priority color. Operation panel 21 shown in FIG.
When the operator operates, the register setting data 70 is supplied from the CPU 31 to these three registers 74 to 76, and the conversion contents thereof are registered.

External interface circuit 5 shown in FIG.
From 2, the external image information 53 of 16 pixels is supplied to the monochrome conversion circuit 72, and the external image information 53 of 8 pixels is supplied to the two-color conversion circuit 73 as a total of 16-bit data. The monochrome conversion circuit 72 and the two-color conversion circuit 73 are
The information of 8 or 16 pixels input in parallel is collected into 16 pixels and sent as 48-bit first or second internal image information 55, 61 to the image storage memory 37 shown in FIG. It will be.

FIG. 9 specifically shows a two-color conversion circuit. The two-color conversion circuit 73 shown in FIG. 8 includes two color conversion circuits, a first color conversion circuit 81 and a second color conversion circuit 82. The first color conversion circuit 81 is shown in FIG.
As described above, when the 16-bit external image information 53 corresponding to 8 pixels is sent twice, the conversion processing for the first 8 pixels is performed. The same 16-bit external image information 53 corresponding to 8 pixels in the latter half is supplied to the second color conversion circuit 82 and processed in the same manner.

The first color conversion circuit 81 performs the conversion processing for each pixel by the first to eighth 1-pixel conversion circuits 83 ₁ to 8 3.
3 ₈ and first to eighth latch circuits 84 _{1 to} 84 ₈ arranged corresponding to these. The second color conversion circuit 82 similarly performs conversion processing for each pixel.
And a 1-pixel conversion circuit 83 _{9-83 16} th to 16. The second color conversion circuit 82 does not have a circuit corresponding to the _first to eighth latch circuits 84 _{1 to} 84 ₈ because the external image information 53 is held while the processing for the next 8 pixels is being performed. It doesn't have to be.

The first color conversion circuit 81 includes the first latch circuit.
84₁Is a 16-bit dark image that constitutes the external image information 53.
Degree data 53₀~ 53_Fifteen1 bit of the corresponding pixel
Black and red two-color density data 53₀, 53₁Supplied by
It is designed to be latched. And so on
8 latch circuit 84₈Is the bit of the corresponding pixel
Two black-red two-color density data 53_Fifteen, 53₁₆Is supplied,
It is designed to be latched. Each of these 2 bits
The latch output is the first to eighth 1-pixel conversion circuits 83 ₁~ 8
Three₈Is supplied to the input side of.

First to eighth one-pixel conversion circuits 83 _{1 to} 83
_In addition to this, data 77 to 79 regarding the off pattern, the on pattern and the priority color are input to the input side of ₈ from the three registers 74 to 76. And the 1st-8th of the first half
2-bit density data 8 for each pixel
6, 87 and 1-bit color flag data 88 are output. Similarly, the second color conversion circuit 82 also outputs 2-bit density data 86, 87 and 1-bit color flag data 88 for each of the ninth to sixteenth pixels in the latter half. Then, these 16 pixels are collected and sent all at once to the image storage memory 37 as the first internal image information 55.

The image storage memory 37 inputs the first internal image information 55 having a total of 3 bits of the 2-bit density data 86 and 87 and the 1-bit color flag data 88, and receives the three page memories 37 ₁ to 37 ₁ . 37 ₃ they will be stored in a form separated by one bit.

FIG. 10 shows a main part of a first 1-pixel conversion circuit as an example of the 1-pixel conversion circuit. Second
~ The circuit configurations of the _sixteenth one-pixel conversion circuits 83 _{2 to} 8316 are the same as those of the first one-pixel conversion circuit 83 ₁ , so description of these circuits will be omitted. The first 1-pixel conversion circuit 83 ₁ is
Priority color data 7 output from the priority color register 76 (FIG. 8)
2-input AND gate 91 for inputting 9 to one input terminal
have. To the other input terminal of the 2-input AND gate 91, a logic output 93 of a 2-input AND gate 92 which takes the logical product of the black density data 53 ₀ and the red density data 53 ₁ is input. . Therefore,
The logic output 93 becomes "1" when both the black and red density data are not "0" (white) (multicolor), which is when the priority color becomes a problem. At this time, if the priority color data 79 is "1" (red), the 2-input AND gate 9
The output data 95 of 1 becomes "1". This output data 9
5 and inverted output of logic output 93 and red concentration data 53 ₁
The output data 97 of the 2-input gate 96 that takes the logical product of
Input is made to the input OR gate 98. Therefore, the color flag data 88 ₁ to be output from now on
Becomes “1” (red) for the pixel where a heavy color occurs,
Recording in red is performed.

On the other hand, in the black priority mode in which black has priority, the priority color data 79 is "0" (black) and the output data 95 is "0". Since the inverting input of the logical output 93 is "0" in the pixel in which the multicolor is generated, the output data 97 as a result of the logical product of this and the red density data 53 ₁ is also "0". As described above, in the black priority mode, the color flag data 88 ₁ becomes “0” (black) for a pixel in which a heavy color occurs, and black recording is performed.

Since the logical output 93 is "0" and the output data 95 is also "0" in the pixel in which no overlapping color occurs, the value of the color flag data 88 ₁ depends on the output data 97. Now, it is assumed that the black density data 53 ₀ is “1” (black printing) and the red density data 53 ₁ is “0” (red non-printing). At this time, the output data 97 of the 2-input gate 96 which takes the logical product of the values "0" and "1" is "0".
And the value of the color flag data 88 ₁ is “0” (black)
Becomes

On the contrary, the black density data 53 ₀ is “0” (black non-printing), and the red density data 53 ₁
Is "1" (red printing). At this time, the output data 97 of the 2-input gate 96, which is the logical product of the values "1" and "1", becomes "1", and the color flag data 88 ₁
The value of is 1 (red). As described above, the value of the color flag data 88 ₁ is the density data 5 of black and red.
3 ₀ , 53 ₁ or when a superposed color occurs, it is defined by the priority color data 79.

By the way, black and red density data 5
3 ₀ and 53 ₁ are input to the 2-input OR gate 101, the logical sum output 102 and the on-pattern data 78 are input to the on-pattern converter 104, and when at least one of them is “1” (printing), the on-pattern is formed. 2 according
OR gate 1 corresponding to bit data 105 and 106
The density data 86 and 87 are output via 07 and 108. Also, a 2-input OR gate 10
In the state where the output of 1 is "0", that is, when the black and red density data 53 ₀ and 53 ₁ are both "0" (non-printing), the inverter 11 that inverts the logical sum output 102
The output 112 of 1 becomes "1". At this time, the output 112 and the off-pattern data 77 cause the off-pattern converter 1 to
13 operates, and 2-bit data 105, 106 corresponding to the off pattern is output as density data 86, 87 via the corresponding OR gates 107, 108.

[0064] In the embodiment described above, one pixel conversion circuit 83 ₁ to 83 ₁₆ of the first to 16 as described in FIG. 9 is provided, and to perform conversion processing for each pixel. By such parallel processing, the signal processing speed is sufficiently increased, so that high-speed recording of two colors based on the external image information is possible even for a high-speed copying machine, printer, or plotter.

In this embodiment, the black and red common on-pattern converter 104 and off-pattern converter 113 are used, but the on-pattern and off-pattern can be changed for two recording colors. is there.
This makes it possible to set the gradation according to the peculiarity of each color. Further, if the image information processing apparatus of the embodiment has a board configuration in which the conversion circuit for two colors is separated from the other circuits, that portion can be prevented from being mounted in a monochromatic product.

In the embodiment described above, the operator operates the operation panel 21, and the priority color register 76 (FIG. 8) is created by the register setting data 70 created by the operation.
It is decided to set the contents of. This assumes that the host computer unit 14 shown in FIG. 1 is arranged near the image forming unit 11. In such a case, since it is possible to easily know what kind of external image information is being created by the host computer unit 14, it is easy to determine which color should be set as the priority color.
However, depending on the printing system, the external computer information is not always created within the range that the host computer unit 14 can see. Further, when the external image information once created is stored and output at night or the like, it becomes difficult for the operator to set the priority color according to the content. Further, when the image information processing device is connected to a network such as Ethernet and a plurality of image information sources sends external image information, it is practically impossible for the operator to input a priority color for these. Is.

Therefore, it is possible to automate the setting of the priority color and, depending on the case, the ON pattern or the OFF pattern at the time of gradation conversion.

First Modification

FIG. 11 shows a main part of the image information processing apparatus for changing the setting of the priority color according to the content of the image information. In the image information processing device 121 of the first modified example,
The external image information 122 is received by the external image information receiving unit 123,
This is supplied to the character part determination unit 124. Character part determination part 1
24 determines the portions of the two recording colors that form the character.

Such a determination can be made by a well-known technique for checking the state of changes in density data for each recording color. In a portion where the character portion determination portion 124 determines that a character exists, the priority color setting portion 125 sets the priority color so that the recording color forming the character becomes the priority color. The external image information received by the external image information receiving unit 123 is sent to the image information converting unit 126 after a delay time corresponding to the above processing. The image information conversion unit 126 converts the external image information into internal image information so that the recording colors forming the characters and line drawings have priority in the portions where the characters and line drawings exist, and the conversion output 127 is used to output two colors. Recording will be done.

In the image information processing apparatus of the first modified example, the handling of the case where the two recording colors together form a character and the case where the two recording colors do not form a character with respect to the pixel in which the above-described heavy color has occurred. Is a problem. When both characters are formed, it is possible to give priority to the one having a more prominent character. For example, for bold and thin characters, the recording color of the thin characters is set as the priority color, or for line segments that are cut in the middle like a broken line rather than continuous line segments By setting the priority color, it is possible to better reproduce information that is likely to be lost in a region where characters are present.

If it is determined that neither the character nor the line drawing is formed in the portion where the overlapping color is generated, the result of the area processed before the same page or the area determination result of the previous page is displayed. It is also effective to set the same recording color as the priority color on the basis. Of course, when red and black are the recording colors, the characters are often composed of black, so the possibility of composing the characters for each recording color is statistically investigated, and this value between recording colors is compared. Alternatively, the priority color may be set to any one.

Second Modification

FIG. 12 shows a main part of an image information processing apparatus as a second modified example of the present invention, in which density levels of image information are compared to set a priority color. FIG.
The same reference numerals are given to the same portions as, and the description thereof will be appropriately omitted. The image information processing apparatus 1 of the second modified example
In the reference numeral 31, the density level comparing unit 132 compares the density levels of the two recording colors with respect to the pixel in which the above-described superposed color has occurred. Therefore, it is premised that the density level itself is composed of a plurality of bits for each pixel, unlike the previous embodiment. The priority color setting unit 125 sets the higher density level as the priority color. The image information conversion unit 126 converts the external image information into internal image information by giving priority to the priority color in the portion of the pixel of the double color, and uses this conversion output 133 to perform two-color recording.

In the second modification, there is a problem in how to set the priority color when the density levels of the two recording colors of the pixel in which the overlapping color is generated are equal. First about this
As described in the modified example, the priority color may be set by using the past history. Alternatively, as in the first modified example, it is determined whether the corresponding area is a character or an image, and the The determined recording color may be set as the priority color.

In the embodiments and the modified examples described above, two colors, black and red, have been described, but the present invention can be similarly applied to any two recording colors. Further, although the embodiment has described the case where the present invention is applied to the image information processing apparatus having the reading unit, it goes without saying that the image information processing apparatus does not necessarily have to have the reading unit. Further, the two-color recording system of the image information processing device is not limited to the one using the photoconductor drum as in the embodiment, but may be one using the photoconductor belt. Of course, the present invention can be similarly applied to a recording system other than the recording system using toner for development.

Further, in the embodiment, the circuit portion for converting the external image information into the first internal image information is configured by using the circuit element, but it is also possible to configure some or all of it by using software. . Further, in the embodiment, the image information for 8 pixels is latched and is output in parallel as the image information for 16 pixels, but various modifications are possible depending on the configuration of the image information processing device. It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to

[0078]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the external image information represented by two kinds of recording colors and respective density data for each pixel is used as one kind of recording color and density data. Since it is decided to record after converting into the internal image information represented by, it is possible to use an image information processing apparatus that employs a two-color recording system in which it is difficult or impossible to mix two colors of recording colors (multicolor). Recording can be performed, the range of devices capable of recording images is expanded, and the degree of freedom in device selection is increased. In particular, since many image information processing apparatuses of this type have a high resolution and a high recording speed like an electrostatic two-color copying machine,
When it is necessary to create a large number of documents, there is an advantage that a high-quality document by two-color recording can be created in a short time.

According to the invention of claim 2, the same effect as that of the invention of claim 1 can be obtained, and the density data of the first recording color and the density data of the second recording color can be obtained. Since density data conversion means for converting each gradation corresponding to a desired gradation is provided, for example, two kinds of density data represented by two values are selected from four kinds of density data. One-to-one conversion can be performed for one thing, and processing such as emphasizing a specific density of a specific recording color or inverting an image can be easily performed. Further, it is possible to correct the recording color reproduction characteristics of the printing section or the recording section.

Furthermore, according to the invention of claim 3, the same effect as that of the invention of claim 1 can be obtained, and since the image reading means for reading an image is arranged inside the apparatus, the external image information can be obtained. It is possible to select and output the first internal image information created based on the external image information received by the receiving unit and the second internal image information obtained from the image reading unit. That is, an image information processing apparatus having an image reading unit and a two-color recording unit and having a two-color copying function can accept external image information having a different image information format, and can also perform two-color recording for this. Become.

According to the invention described in claim 4, the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 1 can be obtained, and the recording color is preferentially selected in accordance with the character of the image information. Since the selecting means is arranged, it is possible to preferentially select the recording color discriminated as the character portion by the area discriminating means among the pixels in which the first and second recording colors other than the white level in the external image information are mixed. it can. Therefore, by giving priority to the recording color determined as the character portion, it is possible to prevent the loss of important image information.

Further, according to the invention of claim 5, the same effect as that of the invention of claim 1 can be obtained, and the recording color priority selecting means for comparing the density levels and selecting the priority color is arranged. Therefore, there is an advantage that a natural recorded image is created by appearance in the pixels in which the first and second recording colors other than the white level in the external image information are mixed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an outline of a printing system using an image information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall circuit configuration of this printing system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a state of switching control from a copy mode to a print mode in this printing system.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a display example in a print mode as an example of display contents of an operation panel.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a correspondence relationship between external image information and internal image information in the red priority mode in this embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a correspondence relationship between external image information and internal image information in the black priority mode in the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an overall circuit configuration of a portion for processing image information of the image information processing apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram specifically showing an image data conversion circuit for converting external image information into first internal image information.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram specifically showing the two-color conversion circuit of the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing a main part of a first one-pixel conversion circuit of this embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a main part of an image information processing apparatus as a first modified example of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a main part of an image information processing apparatus as a second modified example of the invention.

FIG. 13 is a principle diagram of a typical recording method in which two-color recording is performed by the electrostatic photography recording method.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Image forming unit, 12 ... Image reading processing unit, 14 ... Host computer unit, 17 ... Printing unit, 18 ... Paper, 19 ...
Reading unit, 21 ... Operation panel, 23 ... Host computer, 31 ... CPU, 34 ... System memory, 35 ... Work memory, 37 ... Image storage memory, 39 ... External device interface unit, 51 ... External image information, 52 ... External Interface circuit, 54 ... Image data conversion circuit, 55 ... First internal image information, 57 ... Image sensor section, 59 ... Image processing section, 61 ... Second internal image information, 71 ... Image data conversion circuit, 73 ... 2 for color conversion circuit, 74 ... off pattern register, 75 ... on the pattern register, 76 ... priority color register, 83 ₁ to 83 ₁₆ ... first to sixteenth 1 pixel conversion circuit, 104 ... on the pattern converter 113 ... off Pattern converters 121, 131 ... Image information processing device 123 ...
External image information receiving unit, 124 ... Character area determination unit, 125 ...
Priority color setting unit 126 ... Image information conversion unit 132 ... Density level comparison unit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Internal reference number FI Technical display location G06F 3/12 B41J 3/00 A H04N 1/46 H04N 1/46 Z (72) Inventor Morinoyuki Yamauchi 2-7-17 Akatsukashinmachi, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Stock company U-Graph Tokyo office

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An external image information receiving means for receiving external image information representing the density data of the first recording color and the density data of the second recording color for each pixel, and other than the white level in the external image information. Recording color selection means for selecting only one of the recording colors for each pixel in which the first and second recording colors are mixed, and the first and second recording colors other than the white level are mixed. Internal image information for which the recording color selected by the recording color selection means and its density level are adopted for each pixel, and internal image information for which the recording color other than the white level and its density level are adopted is created for other pixels The image forming apparatus further comprises: a creating unit and a two-color recording unit that inputs the internal image information created by the internal image information creating unit and creates a recorded image corresponding to a recording color and its density level for each pixel. You Image processing device. 2. An external image information receiving means for receiving external image information in which the density data of the first recording color and the density data of the second recording color are represented for each pixel, and other than the white level in the external image information. Recording color selection means for selecting only one of the recording colors for each pixel in which the first and second recording colors are mixed, and the density data of the first recording color and the density data of the second recording color. The density data conversion means for converting the respective gradations corresponding to the desired gradations and the respective pixels in which the first and second recording colors other than the white level are mixed are selected by the recording color selecting means. The recorded color and the density level after being converted by the density data converting means are adopted, and for the other pixels, the recording color other than the white level and the density level after being converted by the density data converting means are adopted. The internal image information creating means for creating the used internal image information and the internal image information created by the internal image information creating means are input to create a recorded image corresponding to a recording color and its density level for each pixel. An image information processing apparatus comprising: a color recording unit. 3. External image information receiving means for receiving external image information representing the density data of the first recording color and the density data of the second recording color for each pixel, and other than the white level in the external image information. Recording color selection means for selecting only one of the recording colors for each pixel in which the first and second recording colors are mixed, and the first and second recording colors other than the white level are mixed. For each pixel, the recording color selected by the recording color selection means and its density level are adopted, and for the other pixels, the first internal image information is created which uses the recording color other than the white level and its density level. First internal image information creating means, image reading means for reading an image, and one recording color and one density data for each pixel are represented based on the image information obtained by the image reading section. Second
Second internal image information creating means for creating internal image information, and internal image information selecting means for selecting one of the image information created by the first and second internal image information creating means, An image information processing apparatus comprising: a two-color recording unit that records an image using the image information selected by the information selecting unit. 4. External image information receiving means for receiving external image information representing the density data of the first recording color and the density data of the second recording color for each pixel, and other than the white level in the external image information. Area discriminating means for discriminating whether or not each pixel in which the first and second recording colors are mixed belongs to a character portion in which a character is arranged; Among the pixels in which the second recording color is mixed, the recording color priority selecting means for preferentially selecting the recording color discriminated as the character portion by the area discriminating means, and the first and second recording colors other than the white level are For each mixed pixel, the recording color selected by the recording color priority selecting means and its density level are adopted, and for the other pixels, the internal color information adopting the recording color other than the white level and its density level is adopted. In creating And a two-color recording unit for inputting the internal image information created by the internal image information creating unit and creating a recorded image corresponding to a recording color and its density level for each pixel. An image information processing device characterized by: 5. An external image information receiving means for receiving external image information representing the density data of the first recording color and the density data of the second recording color for each pixel, other than the white level in the external image information. The density level comparing means for comparing the density levels of the respective pixels in which the first and second recording colors are mixed, and the first and second recording colors other than the white level in the external image information are mixed. A recording color priority selecting means for preferentially selecting a recording color having a higher density level among pixels, and a recording color priority selecting means for each pixel in which the first and second recording colors other than the white level are mixed. An internal image information creating means for creating the internal image information using the recording color selected by the recording color and its density level, and the recording color other than the white level and its density level for the other pixels. Image information processing apparatus characterized by comprising a two-color recording unit for creating a recording image corresponding to the recording colors to the density level for each pixel by entering the internal image information created by the creating means.