JPH11261808A - Image processor and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a device cost and to improve processing efficiency. SOLUTION: Image data photographed by external equipment are tentatively stored in an input buffer 501. An interpolation processing part 502 sets an interpolation coefficient for obtaining an image of a desired magnification and a leading address and an address updating direction for rotating and arranging the image to the optional coordinates of an image memory 504 prior to processing start. Thereafter, the interpolation processing part 502 reads image data from the input buffer 501, generates variable power image data and outputs ready signals to an error diffusion processing part 503. The error diffusion processing part 503 gradation-converts intermediate image data generated by the interpolation processing part 502 and writes the image data to the address on the image memory 504 designated by the interpolation processing part 502 and thus, the image data magnified to the desired magnification and gradation- processed are obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method for outputting to an output device having a lower number of gradations than the number of gradations of input image data. The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method for generating image data suitable for the number of gradations with an arbitrary image size.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a multi-format printer that prints out image data photographed by a medical device such as an X-ray CT scanning device or an MRI device in an arbitrary format, as shown in FIG. When printing high-gradation image data captured by the X-ray CT apparatus 104, MRI apparatus 105, other medical equipment 106, or the like connected to the printer in an arbitrary specified format, the magnification and arrangement of each input image ( Since the parameters such as position and direction) are different, the data is developed on the frame memory by interpolation processing, the image data on the frame memory is read and transferred to the printer 102, and the transferred image data is transferred to an optical device such as a semiconductor laser or an LED. A medical image is printed out by drawing and developing on a silver halide film by a device. Zapurinta is the mainstream. However, the problem of developing waste liquid affecting the environment has become serious, and the development of a dry (dry) multi-format printer that does not require a developing liquid has been promoted.

Further, by using an ink jet technology for a printer, an image developed in a multi format in a frame memory by interpolation processing is converted into bitmap data using an error diffusion method, and transferred to a printer engine unit. It has been practiced to obtain a desired image.

In the error diffusion processing, if the processing direction of the error diffusion processing is performed only in a fixed direction with respect to the main scanning side, the distributed error is directed to one direction, so that the generated image becomes uneven. I do. Therefore, it is known that the MTF is improved by alternately switching the distribution direction of the error component distributed by error diffusion for each line.

[0005]

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, when the image size of the input image does not match the image size of the output device, or when the image is output after being changed to an arbitrary format. Requires magnification processing such as enlargement / reduction in addition to gradation conversion by error diffusion processing. Therefore, conventionally, the processing shown in FIG. 8 is performed by the control circuit shown in FIG. That is, in FIG. 3 and FIG.
In step 1, image data input from an external device such as an X-ray CT device or an MRI device is temporarily stored in the input buffer 301. If there is a setting change in step S32, in step S33, the interpolation processing unit 302 sets an interpolation coefficient and an image in an arbitrary coordinate of the image memory 305 so as to obtain an image with a desired magnification before starting the processing. The start address and the address update direction are set in order to rotate and arrange. The error diffusion processing unit 503 sets the image size after the interpolation processing.

If there is no setting change in step S32 or after the processing in step S33, in step S34, the image data stored in the input buffer 301 is read out.
In step S35, a scaling process is performed by the interpolation processing unit 302. In step S36, the intermediate image subjected to the scaling process is stored in the buffer memory 303. In step S37, the completion of the interpolation process in units of lines is waited, and then in step S38. It is necessary to read out the intermediate image stored in the buffer memory 303 in step S39, and perform error diffusion processing in the error diffusion processing unit 304 in step S39. In step S40, the error diffusion processing unit 304 writes the image data subjected to the error diffusion processing to an address on the image memory 305. After that, in step S3, until the processing of the last pixel is completed in step S41.
The processes from 8 to S40 are repeatedly executed.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the direction in which the processing proceeds from left to right with respect to the main scanning direction of the image is defined as rightward processing, and the direction in which the processing proceeds from right to left is defined as leftward processing, error diffusion processing is performed. It is known that the MTF is improved by switching the traveling direction of the left and right in line units. Intermediate image data generated by the scaling processing in the interpolation processing unit 302 is stored for each pixel as rightward processing in the buffer memory. To perform error diffusion in the left direction, 1
All the intermediate image data for the line must be stored in the buffer memory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has as its object to convert intermediate image data, which has been converted to an arbitrary magnification, into image data input from an external device, by converting the intermediate image data It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing method which can eliminate the need for a storage unit for storing the image data, reduce the apparatus cost, and improve the processing efficiency.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention has the following arrangement. That is, a data storage unit for storing image data input from an external device, a data reading unit for reading image data from the data storage unit, and an image storing unit for storing the image data with the gradation number of the image data stored in the data storage unit. The image processing apparatus includes: magnification conversion means for converting data into an arbitrary magnification; gradation conversion means for converting the gradation of the image data with the converted magnification; and storage means for storing the image data with the converted gradation. I do.

Further, the image processing apparatus of the present invention has the following features. That is, the image forming apparatus includes a magnification changing step of converting the magnification without changing the gradation number of the image data input from the external device, and a conversion step of converting the gradation of the image data having the converted magnification.

A computer-readable memory storing the program code for image processing according to the present invention has the following features. That is, a computer readable memory in which a program code for image processing is stored, wherein a code for a magnification changing step for converting a magnification without changing the gradation number of image data input from an external device; And a code for a conversion step for converting the gradation of the data.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. [First Embodiment] As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG.
In step S1, high-gradation image data captured by a medical device such as a medical device or an MRI device is temporarily stored in the input buffer 50.
1 is stored. If there is a setting change in step S2, in step S3, the interpolation processing unit 502 sets an interpolation coefficient and an image at an arbitrary coordinate of the image memory 504 so as to obtain an image with a desired magnification before starting the processing. The start address and the address update direction are set in order to rotate and arrange. The error diffusion processing unit 503 sets the image size after the interpolation processing.

If there is no change in the setting in step S2 or after the processing in step S3, in step S4, when the interpolation processing start signal is input, the interpolation processing section 502 reads the image data from the input buffer 501, and in step S5
And generates a ready signal to the error diffusion processing unit 503.

In step S6, the error diffusion processing unit 503
Converts the gradation of the intermediate image data generated by the interpolation processing unit 502 to a desired magnification by writing the image data to the address on the image memory 504 designated by the interpolation processing unit 502 in step S7. The image data subjected to gradation processing is obtained. Thereafter, the processing of steps S4 to S7 is repeatedly executed until the processing of the last pixel is completed in step S8. [Second Embodiment] In FIG. 7, steps S11-S
13, steps S21 to S22 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

After the processing in steps S11 to S13, in step S14, the interpolation processing unit 502 determines whether the scaled image data generated therein is an odd line or an even line. If it is an odd line in step S14, in step S15, the interpolation processing unit 502
Reads the image data on the input buffer 501 rightward from the left end of the line to perform the processing in the right direction, and performs the interpolation processing on the image data read in step S16.

If the line is an even line in step S14, in step S18, the interpolation processing unit 502 reads image data in the input buffer 501 from the right end of the line to the left in order to perform processing in the left direction, and reads in step S19. An interpolation process is performed on the image data. Thus, in steps S16 and S19, the output direction of the scaled image data generated for each line is changed.

In the error diffusion processing unit 503, step S1
6. The pixels processed in S19 are counted, and the end of processing is detected in units of lines by comparing with the previously set image size after the interpolation processing, and the image data currently being processed is an odd-numbered line. Or even line,
If the line is an odd line, the processing direction is switched to the right (step S17), and if the line is an even line, the processing direction is switched to the left (step S20), thereby realizing bidirectional error diffusion processing.

In step S21, the error diffusion processing unit 50
3 is the image memory 5 designated by the interpolation processing unit 502
04 by writing the image data to the address on
Image data that has been scaled to a desired magnification and subjected to gradation processing is obtained.

Thereafter, in step S22, the processing of steps S14 to S21 is repeatedly executed until the processing of the last pixel is completed. [General Description of Printer] FIG. 9 is an external perspective view showing an outline of the configuration of an ink jet printer IJRA which is a typical embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 9, a spiral groove 500 of a lead screw 5005 which rotates via driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in conjunction with forward and reverse rotation of a driving motor 5013.
The carriage HC engaged with the carriage 4 has a pin (not shown) and is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. An ink jet cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC. Reference numeral 5002 denotes a paper pressing plate, which presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the moving direction of the carriage. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote home position detecting means for confirming the presence of the carriage lever 5006 in this area and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013. A member 5016 supports a cap member 5022 for capping the front surface of the recording head.
Reference numeral 5015 denotes a suction unit that suctions the inside of the cap, and performs suction recovery of the recording head through the opening 5023 in the cap. Reference numeral 5017 denotes a cleaning blade. Reference numeral 5019 denotes a member which allows the blade to move in the front-rear direction. These members are supported by a main body support plate 5018. It goes without saying that the blade is not limited to this form and a known cleaning blade can be applied to this example. Also, 5012 is
The lever for starting suction for suction recovery moves with the movement of the cam 5020 that engages with the carriage, and the driving force from the drive motor is movement-controlled by known transmission means such as clutch switching.

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that desired operations can be performed at the corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage comes to the area on the home position side. If a desired operation is performed at a timing, any of the examples can be applied. [Description of Control Structure of Printer] Next, a control structure for executing the printing control of the above-described apparatus will be described. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit of the inkjet printer IJRA.

Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1700 denotes an interface for inputting a recording signal, and 1701 denotes an MP.
Reference numerals U and 1702 denote program ROMs for storing control programs executed by the MPU 1701, and 1703 denotes a dynamic RAM for storing various data (such as the recording signals and recording data supplied to the head). 1704
A gate array for controlling supply of print data to the print head 1708;
Data transfer between the PU 1701 and the RAM 1703 is also controlled. Reference numeral 1710 denotes a carrier motor for transporting the recording head 1708, and reference numeral 1709 denotes a transport motor for transporting the recording paper. 1705, a head driver for driving the head;
9. A motor driver for driving the carrier motor 1710.

The operation of the above control configuration will be described. When a recording signal enters the interface 1700, the gate array 17
04 and the MPU 1701 converts the recording signal into recording data for printing. Then, the motor driver 17
06 and 1707 are driven, and the head driver 1
The recording head is driven according to the recording data sent to 705, and printing is performed.

The above-described embodiment is particularly provided with a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for performing ink ejection even in an ink jet recording system. By using a method in which a change in the state of the ink is caused by thermal energy, higher density and higher definition of recording can be achieved.

The typical configuration and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding the film boiling to the electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or the liquid path holding the Since thermal energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer and film boiling occurs on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis can be formed. It is valid. By discharging the liquid (ink) through the discharge opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble, at least one droplet is formed. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable.

As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of the discharge port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal converter (linear liquid flow path or right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, A configuration using U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting surface is arranged in a bent region, is also included in the present invention. In addition, for multiple electrothermal transducers,
JP-A-59-123670 which discloses a configuration in which a common slot is used as a discharge part of an electrothermal transducer, and JP-A-59-123670 which discloses a configuration in which an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy corresponds to a discharge part. A configuration based on 138461 may be adopted.

Further, as a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, the length is determined by a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above specification. This may be either a configuration satisfying the above requirements or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally.

In addition, not only the cartridge type recording head in which the ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself described in the above embodiment but also the apparatus main body, A replaceable chip-type recording head that allows for an efficient connection and supply of ink from the apparatus body may be used.

It is preferable to add recovery means for the print head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like to the above-described configuration of the printing apparatus, since the printing operation can be further stabilized. Specific examples thereof include capping means for the recording head, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, preheating means using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element or a combination thereof. It is also effective to provide a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection that is different from printing, in order to perform stable printing.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to a recording mode of only a mainstream color such as black, and may be a recording head integrally formed or a combination of a plurality of recording heads. Alternatively, the apparatus may be provided with at least one of full colors by color mixture.

In the above-described embodiment, the description has been made on the assumption that the ink is a liquid. However, even if the ink solidifies at room temperature or lower, it is possible to use an ink that softens or liquefies at room temperature. Or, in the ink jet method, generally, the temperature of the ink itself is controlled within a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range.
It is sufficient that the ink is in a liquid state when the use recording signal is applied.

In addition, in order to positively prevent the temperature rise due to thermal energy as energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, the temperature is positively prevented.
Alternatively, in order to prevent evaporation of the ink, an ink which solidifies in a standing state and liquefies by heating may be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by the application of the heat energy recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or by the time the ink reaches the recording medium, the solidification of the ink already begun. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of liquefying for the first time is used. In such a case, as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, the ink is held in a liquid state or a solid state in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet. It is good also as a form which opposes an electrothermal transducer. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition to the above, the recording apparatus according to the present invention may be provided as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer as an integrated or separate unit, a copying apparatus combined with a reader, etc. It may take the form of a facsimile machine having functions.

[0035]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine) Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

An object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium may store the program code corresponding to the flowchart described above in the storage medium.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When performing scaling processing and gradation conversion processing on image data input from an external device, the number of accesses to the frame memory can be reduced and throughput can be improved.

When the image quality is improved by changing the direction of the gradation conversion process, bidirectional processing can be performed without using a frame memory, and the number of accesses to the frame memory can be reduced, thereby improving the throughput.

[0044]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a medical network.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between an input image and an output image.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control circuit configuration of a conventional example.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a processing direction.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control circuit that executes processing according to the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing of a conventional example.

FIG. 9 is an inkjet printer IJRA of the present embodiment.
It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the outline of a structure.

FIG. 10 is an inkjet printer IJR of the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control circuit configuration of A.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 Host computer 102 Printer 103 Network 104 X-ray CT apparatus 105 MRI apparatus 106 Other imaging apparatus 301 Input buffer 302 Interpolation processing unit 303 Buffer memory 304 Error diffusion processing unit 305 Image memory 501 Input buffer 502 Interpolation processing unit 503 Error diffusion processing unit 504 Image memory

Claims (18)

[Claims] A data storage unit for storing image data input from an external device; a data reading unit for reading image data from the data storage unit; and a gradation number of image data stored in the data storage unit. Magnification conversion means for converting the image data to an arbitrary magnification as it is, gradation conversion means for converting the gradation of the image data with the converted magnification, and storage means for storing the image data with the converted gradation An image processing apparatus comprising: 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a coordinate setting unit configured to set storage coordinates of the image data whose gradation has been converted in the storage unit. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gradation conversion unit changes a traveling direction of the gradation conversion processing for each scanning line of the image data. 4. The magnification conversion unit changes the progress direction of the magnification conversion process so that the output direction of the image data whose magnification is converted matches the progress direction of the gradation conversion process. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. 5. The coordinate setting unit according to claim 1, wherein the coordinate setting unit sets an update direction of the coordinates so that the image data is rotated and stored at predetermined coordinates.
An image processing apparatus according to the item. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external device is a medical imaging device. 7. A magnification changing step of converting a magnification without changing the gradation number of image data input from an external device, and a conversion step of converting a gradation of the image data whose magnification has been converted. Image processing method. 8. A data accumulating step of accumulating image data input from the external device, and a data reading step of reading out the image data accumulated in the data accumulating step. 8. The image processing method according to claim 7, wherein the magnification of the image data read in the reading step is converted. 9. The image processing method according to claim 8, further comprising a storage step of storing the image data whose gradation has been converted in the conversion step. 10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a coordinate setting step of setting storage coordinates in the storage step of the image data whose gradation has been converted in the conversion step. The image processing method according to the item. 11. The image processing method according to claim 7, wherein, in the conversion step, a traveling direction of a gradation conversion process is changed for each scan line of the image data. 12. In the conversion step, the traveling direction of the magnification conversion processing is changed so that the output direction of the image data whose magnification has been converted in the magnification step matches the traveling direction of the gradation conversion processing. The image processing method according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein: 13. The coordinate setting step according to claim 7, wherein an updating direction of the coordinates is set in order to rotate and store the image data at predetermined coordinates. Image processing method. 14. The image processing method according to claim 7, wherein the external device is a medical imaging device. 15. A computer readable memory in which a program code for image processing is stored, wherein a code for a scaling step for converting a magnification without changing the number of gradations of image data input from an external device; A code for a conversion step of converting the gradation of the image data obtained. 16. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a code of a data storage step of storing image data input from the external device, and a code of a data reading step of reading the image data stored in the data storage step. Claim 1
6. The computer-readable memory according to claim 5. 17. The computer-readable memory according to claim 16, further comprising a code of a storage step of storing image data whose gradation has been converted in the conversion step. 18. The image processing apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a code of a coordinate setting step of setting storage coordinates in the storage step of the image data whose gradation has been converted in the conversion step. A computer readable memory according to claim 1.