JPH1188585A - Image processing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a processing unit to self-diagnose automatically presence of a fault regardless of a simple configuration. SOLUTION: The presence of a fault in a frame memory is checked (300, 302), the presence of a fault in an interface with a scanner is diagnosed (304-308). In order to diagnose the presence of a fault in an image processing circuit conducting specific image processing among plural varieties of image processing set, diagnostic image data and processing conditions corresponding to the image processing are received (310), the received processing conditions are set to the image processing circuit being a diagnostic object, the received diagnostic image data are stored in the frame memory, only the image processing circuit of the diagnostic object in the image processor applies image processing to the diagnostic image data and stores again the image data after the processing to the frame memory (310-318). Then the data are compared with a predetermined expect data to diagnose the presence of a fault in the image processing circuit (318, 320). The processing above is applied to plural varieties of image processing sets.

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 more particularly, to an image processing apparatus that performs image processing on input image data and outputs the processed image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image data obtained by reading a film image recorded on a photographic film by an image reading device having a reading sensor such as a CCD, and image data input from a digital camera or the like, have been developed. On the other hand, in an image processing device, after performing image processing such as enlargement / reduction and enhancement of a specific frequency component of the image, the image is recorded on a recording material such as photographic paper, the image is displayed on a display, or an information recording medium is used. 2. Description of the Related Art An image processing system for storing image data in a storage device is known. According to this image processing system, the image quality of the recorded image can be freely controlled by image processing on the image data, as compared with a conventional photographic processing system that records a film image on photographic paper by surface exposure. Higher image quality can be realized.

In the above-described image processing system, when an abnormality such as a decrease in the quality of a recorded image occurs, an operator specifies the cause of the abnormality and, if there is a failure, a location where the failure has occurred. It is necessary to repair, but especially the image processing apparatus of the image processing system has a complicated configuration and determines whether or not a failure has occurred in the location even if the location where the failure has occurred is visually checked. Since it is almost impossible to do so, determining whether or not a failure has occurred in the image processing apparatus and specifying where the failure has occurred are complicated operations requiring skill.

The image processing apparatus includes a frame memory for temporarily storing input image data to be processed, and an image processing unit for performing image processing loads the image data stored in the frame memory. It is configured to perform image processing and output to the outside. Therefore, conventionally, when diagnosing a failure, an operator connects a failure diagnosis memory (a jig memory) to an image data output side of the image processing apparatus, and outputs test pattern image data representing a failure diagnosis test pattern image. Is stored in the frame memory, the image processing unit performs image processing on the test pattern image, stores the image data on which the image processing has been performed in the jig memory, and stores the image represented by the image data stored in the jig memory. The inspection was performed by comparing the image with the intended image to determine whether or not the image processing apparatus had a failure.

[0005]

However, in the above failure diagnosis method, when diagnosing the presence / absence of a failure, the operator needs to perform an operation of connecting the jig memory to the image data output side of the image processing apparatus. In addition, it is difficult to completely automate the failure diagnosis of the image processing apparatus and to perform the self-diagnosis of the image processing apparatus to determine whether or not the image processing apparatus has a failure at an arbitrary timing.

In addition, the image represented by the image data stored in the jig memory in the above-described failure diagnosis is not only when the image processing apparatus has failed but also when the frame memory or the jig memory has failed. May be different from the expected image due to this effect. For this reason, in order to avoid erroneous diagnosis of the presence or absence of a failure in the image processing apparatus, it is necessary to diagnose whether or not there is a failure in the frame memory and the jig memory. Since the hardware is external, it is difficult for the image processing apparatus to automatically diagnose whether or not the jig memory has failed. Therefore, in the failure diagnosis, the operator sets the jig memory in a failure diagnosis device that diagnoses whether or not the jig memory has a failure, and after confirming that there is no failure in the jig memory, connects the image processing device. Work had to be done.

[0007] Periodically performing a failure diagnosis regardless of whether an abnormality has occurred is very effective in improving the reliability of the image processing system. Since the operator needs to perform various operations each time the diagnosis is performed, there is a problem in that if the failure diagnosis is performed periodically, a heavy burden is imposed on the operator.

In order to solve the above problem, it is conceivable that the jig memory is built in the image processing apparatus and the image processing apparatus diagnoses whether the jig memory is faulty. As a result, the configuration of the image processing apparatus becomes complicated and the cost of the image processing apparatus increases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned facts, and has as its object to provide an image processing apparatus capable of automatically diagnosing the presence or absence of a failure with a simple configuration.

[0010]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus comprising: first storage means for storing input image data; and first storage means for storing input image data. An image processing unit that performs image processing on the image data stored in the storage unit, and stores predetermined diagnostic data and expected value data representing a processing result when the image processing is performed on the diagnostic data. A second storage unit that stores the diagnostic data in the first storage unit, performs image processing on the diagnostic data by the image processing unit, and stores data corresponding to a processing result in the first storage unit. Diagnosing means for comparing the data stored and re-stored in the first storage means with the expected value data to diagnose the presence or absence of a failure.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the image processing section which performs image processing on the image data stored in the first storage means, wherein the diagnosis means stores predetermined diagnosis data in the first storage means. The diagnostic data is subjected to image processing by the image processing unit, and data corresponding to the processing result is stored again in the first storage unit. And the diagnostic means,
The presence / absence of a failure is diagnosed by comparing data re-stored in the first storage unit with expected value data representing a processing result when the image processing is performed on the diagnostic data.

Thus, the first storage means stores the image data to be subjected to the image processing in the image processing section and the data corresponding to the processing result of the image processing performed by the image processing section on the diagnostic data. Is stored again in the first storage means, so that when the diagnosis means diagnoses the presence or absence of a failure, it is not necessary to separately provide a jig memory or the like for storing data corresponding to the processing result. Based on the result of comparing the data stored in the means with the expected value data,
It is possible to diagnose whether or not there is a failure in the image processing apparatus without being affected by whether or not there is a failure in the jig memory or the like.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since it is not necessary to provide a jig memory or the like as described above, the configuration of the image processing apparatus may be complicated by incorporating the jig memory or the like in the image processing apparatus. At the same time, when the diagnostic means diagnoses the presence or absence of a failure, it is not necessary to connect a jig memory or the like, which has been confirmed in advance to have no failure, to the output side of the image processing apparatus. No need to do it. Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a self-diagnosis of the presence or absence of a failure can be automatically performed with a simple configuration.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the diagnosing means diagnoses the first storage means for a failure prior to the diagnosis of the failure using the diagnostic data. Features.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the diagnosis of the presence or absence of a failure in the first storage means is performed prior to the diagnosis of the presence or absence of a failure using the diagnostic data. Based on the result of comparison with expected value data,
It is possible to reliably diagnose whether or not there is a failure in the image processing unit without being affected by whether or not there is a failure in the storage unit.

If the image processing section is configured to perform a plurality of types of image processing on the image data, the second storage means stores the diagnostic data and the diagnostic data in the second storage means. A plurality of types of expected value data corresponding to the diagnostic data are stored in correspondence with the plurality of types of image processing, and the diagnosing means includes one of the plurality of types of diagnostic data.
One of the plurality of types of image processing, and only the predetermined image processing corresponding to the diagnostic data stored in the first storage means is performed by the image processing unit, which corresponds to a processing result. The data is stored again in the first storage means, and the first
The data re-stored in the storage unit is compared with the expected value data corresponding to the diagnostic data stored in the first storage unit to determine whether or not a failure has occurred in a portion of the image processing unit that performs the predetermined image processing. Is preferably performed for each of the plurality of types of image processing.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, any one of the plurality of types of diagnostic data is stored in the first storage means,
Only predetermined image processing corresponding to the stored diagnostic data is performed by the image processing unit, and the data corresponding to the processing result re-stored in the first storage means and the diagnostic data stored in the first storage means Diagnosing the presence or absence of a failure in the portion of the image processing unit that performs the predetermined image processing by comparing with the corresponding expected value data is performed for each of a plurality of types of image processing, so that a failure has occurred in the image processing unit. In this case, it is possible to determine which of the plurality of types of image processing performs a failure in a portion where image processing is performed.

This makes it clear which part should be repaired when a failure occurs in the image processing unit, so that the image processing unit performs a plurality of types of image processing on image data. In this case, the operator can easily perform repairs and other operations when a failure occurs in the image processing unit.

Further, if the display means for displaying the diagnosis result of the failure by the diagnosis means is provided, the operator can easily grasp the diagnosis result by the diagnosis means. . In the invention according to claim 3, when the diagnosing unit diagnoses that a specific portion of the image processing unit has a failure, the display unit displays an arrangement position of the specific portion in the image processing unit. If
This is preferable because the operator can very easily know which part should be repaired when a failure occurs in the image processing unit.

Incidentally, the image processing section is not always configured to always perform a constant image processing on the image data to be processed, and the image processing section performs the image processing in accordance with the processing conditions calculated for each image data on the image data to be processed. In some cases, the processing is performed. In such a case, the result of the image processing also changes depending on the processing conditions under which the image processing unit performed the image processing.

[0021] Therefore, the invention described in claim 5 is based on claim 1.
In the invention, the image processing unit performs image processing on image data to be processed in accordance with processing conditions calculated in image data units, and performs image processing on diagnostic data in accordance with predetermined processing conditions. The second storage means is characterized by storing, as expected value data, data representing a processing result when image processing is performed on the diagnostic data in accordance with the predetermined processing condition.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the image processing is performed on the diagnostic data in accordance with a predetermined processing condition, and the processing result when the image processing is performed on the diagnostic data in accordance with the predetermined processing condition is obtained. Since the presence / absence of a failure is diagnosed using the data representing the expected value data, the image processing unit performs image processing on the image data to be processed in accordance with the processing conditions calculated in image data units. Also, it is possible to surely diagnose whether or not there is a failure.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, the digital laboratory system according to the present embodiment will be described first.

(Schematic Configuration of Entire System) FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a digital laboratory system 10 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows an external view of the digital laboratory system 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the lab system 10 includes a line CCD scanner 14, an image processing unit 16 as an image processing device of the present invention, and a laser printer unit 1.
8 and a processor unit 20, the line CCD scanner 14 and the image processing unit 16 are integrated as an input unit 26 shown in FIG. 2, and the laser printer unit 18 and the processor unit 20 are Output unit 28 shown in FIG.
It is integrated as.

The line CCD scanner 14 is for reading a film image recorded on a photographic film such as a negative film or a reversal film. For example, a 135 size photographic film, a 110 size photographic film, and a transparent magnetic film are used. Photographic film (2
40 size photographic film: so-called APS film), 1
Film images of photographic films of sizes 20 and 220 (Broni size) can be read. The line CCD scanner 14 reads the film image to be read by the line CCD and outputs image data. Instead of the line CCD scanner 14, an area CCD scanner for reading a film image by an area CCD may be provided.

The image processing section 16 stores image data (scanned image data) output from the line CCD scanner 14.
Is input, and image data obtained by photographing with a digital camera, image data obtained by reading a document other than a film image (for example, a reflection document, etc.) with a scanner, image data generated by a computer, etc. Hereinafter, these are collectively referred to as file image data.) It is also possible to externally input (for example, input via a storage medium such as a memory card, or input from another information processing device via a communication line). It is configured as follows.

The image processing section 16 performs image processing such as various corrections on the input image data and outputs the image data to the laser printer section 18 as recording image data. Also,
The image processing unit 16 outputs image data on which image processing has been performed to an external device as an image file (for example, outputs the image data to a storage medium such as a memory card, or transmits the image data to another information processing device via a communication line). It is also possible.

The laser printer section 18 is provided with R, G, and B laser light sources, and irradiates a photographic paper with laser light modulated in accordance with recording image data input from the image processing section 16 to perform scanning exposure. To record an image on photographic paper. Further, the processor unit 20 performs each process of color development, bleach-fix, washing, and drying on the photographic paper on which the image is recorded by the scanning exposure by the laser printer unit 18. Thus, an image is formed on the printing paper.

(Configuration of Line CCD Scanner) Next, the configuration of the line CCD scanner 14 will be described. FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of an optical system of the line CCD scanner 14. The optical system includes a halogen lamp, a metal halide lamp, or the like, and includes a light source 30 that irradiates light to the photographic film 22. Diffusion boxes 36 are arranged in order.

The photographic film 22 includes a light diffusion box 36.
A film carrier 38 (see FIG. 5 and not shown in FIG. 3) arranged on the light exit side of the camera positions the screen center of the film image so as to coincide with the optical axis. Note that FIG.
Shows a long photographic film 22, but for a slide film (reversal film) and an APS film held in a slide holder for each frame,
Each dedicated film carrier is prepared (APS
A film carrier for a film has a magnetic head for reading information magnetically recorded on a magnetic layer), and it is also possible to position a film image of these photographic films.

Between the light source 30 and the light diffusion box 36, C (cyan), M (magenta) and Y (yellow) dimming filters 114C, 114M and 114Y are arranged along the optical axis of the emitted light. A lens unit 4 that is provided in order and forms an image of light transmitted through the film image along an optical axis on a side opposite to the light source 30 across the photographic film 22.
0 and a line CCD 116 are sequentially arranged. Although FIG. 3 shows only a single lens as the lens unit 40, the lens unit 40 is actually a zoom lens composed of a plurality of lenses.

The line CCD 116 has a large number of photoelectric conversion elements such as CCD cells and photodiodes arranged in a row, and three sensing units provided with an electronic shutter mechanism are provided in parallel with each other at intervals. One of R, G, and B color separation filters is attached to the light incident side of the sensing unit (a so-called three-line color CCD). The line CCD 116 is arranged so that the light receiving surface of each sensing unit matches the image forming point position of the lens unit 40. In addition, a transfer section composed of a large number of CCD cells is provided in the vicinity of each sensing section corresponding to each sensing section, and charges accumulated in each CCD cell of each sensing section are transferred to the corresponding transfer section. Are transferred in order through. Although not shown, the line C
A shutter is provided between the CD 116 and the lens unit 40.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic configuration of an electric system of the line CCD scanner 14. Line CCD scanner 1
4 includes a microprocessor 46 for controlling the entire line CCD scanner 14. The microprocessor 46 has a RAM 64 (for example, SRA
M), ROM 66 (for example, RO whose storage contents can be rewritten)
M), a motor driver 48 is connected, and a filter drive motor 54 is connected to the motor driver 48. The filter drive motor 54 can slide the dimming filters 114C, 114M, and 114Y independently of each other.

The microprocessor 46 turns on and off the light source 30 in conjunction with turning on and off a power switch (not shown). The microprocessor 46 includes a line CCD 1
When the film image is read (photometric) by the filter drive motor 54, the dimming filter 11 is
4C, 114M, and 114Y are independently slid, and the amount of light incident on the line CCD 116 is adjusted for each component color light.

The motor driver 48 includes a zoom drive motor 70 for changing the zoom magnification of the lens unit 40 by relatively moving the positions of a plurality of lenses of the lens unit 40, and moving the entire lens unit 40. Is connected to a lens drive motor 106 for moving the image forming point position of the lens unit 40 along the optical axis. The microprocessor 46 changes the zoom magnification of the lens unit 40 to a desired magnification by the zoom drive motor 70 according to the size of the film image, whether to perform trimming, and the like.

On the other hand, a timing generator 74 is connected to the line CCD 116. The timing generator 74 generates various timing signals (clock signals) for operating the line CCD 116, an A / D converter 82 described later, and the like. The signal output terminal of the line CCD 116 is connected to the A / D converter 82 via the amplifier 76. The output terminal of the A / D converter 82 is connected to an interface (I / F) circuit 90 via a correlated double sampling circuit (CDS) 88.

The CDS 88 samples the feedthrough data indicating the level of the feedthrough signal and the pixel data indicating the level of the pixel signal, and subtracts the feedthrough data from the pixel data for each pixel. Then, the calculation result (pixel data accurately corresponding to the amount of charge stored in each CCD cell) is sequentially output to the image processing unit 16 as scan image data via the I / F circuit 90. Since R, G, and B photometric signals are output in parallel from the line CCD 116, the amplifier 76, the A / D converter 8
2. Three signal processing systems including the CDS 88 are also provided, and the I / F circuit 90 outputs R, G, and B image data as scan image data in parallel.

The motor driver 48 is connected to a shutter drive motor 92 for opening and closing the shutter. The dark output of the line CCD 116 is corrected by the image processing unit 16 at the subsequent stage. The dark output level can be obtained by closing the shutter by the microprocessor 46 when the film image is not being read. .

(Configuration of Image Processing Unit) Next, the image processing unit 16
Will be described with reference to FIG. Image processing unit 1
Reference numeral 6 is provided with a line scanner correction unit 122 corresponding to the line CCD scanner 14. The line scanner correction unit 122 includes a dark correction circuit 124, a defective pixel correction unit 128, and a light correction circuit 13 corresponding to R, G, and B image data output in parallel from the line CCD scanner 14.
There are provided three signal processing systems composed of 0s.

The dark correction circuit 124 includes a line CCD 116
In the state where the light incident side is shielded from light by the shutter, data input from the line CCD scanner 14 (data representing the dark output level of each cell of the sensing unit of the line CCD 116) is stored for each cell, and CCD
From the scanned image data input from the scanner 14,
The correction is performed by reducing the dark output level of the cell corresponding to each pixel.

Further, the photoelectric conversion characteristics of the line CCD 116 vary from cell to cell. Defective pixel correction unit 12
In the bright correction circuit 130 at the subsequent stage of 8, the line CCD 116 reads the adjustment film image with the line CCD 116 while the film image for adjustment having a constant density is set on the entire screen of the line CCD scanner 14.
A gain is determined for each cell based on the image data of the adjustment film image input from the scanner 14 (the density variation of each pixel represented by this image data is caused by the variation of the photoelectric conversion characteristics of each cell). Previously, line CCD
The image data of the film image to be read input from the scanner 14 is corrected for each pixel according to the gain determined for each cell.

On the other hand, if the density of a specific pixel is significantly different from the density of other pixels in the image data of the film image for adjustment, the cell corresponding to the specific pixel in the line CCD 116 has some abnormalities. The specific pixel can be determined as a defective pixel. Defective pixel correction unit 12
8 stores the address of the defective pixel based on the image data of the film image for adjustment,
Among the image data of the film image to be read inputted from 4, the data of the defective pixel is interpolated from the data of the surrounding pixels to newly generate data.

Since three lines (CCD cell rows) are arranged in the line CCD 116 at predetermined intervals along the direction in which the photographic film 22 is conveyed, the line CCD scanner 14 outputs R, G, and B lines. There is a time difference in the timing at which the output of the image data of each component color is started.
The line scanner correction unit 122 delays the output timing of the image data with a different delay time for each component color so that the R, G, and B image data of the same pixel is simultaneously output on the film image.

The output terminal of the line scanner correction unit 122 is connected to the input terminal of the selector 132,
Are output to the selector 132. The input terminal of the selector 132 is also connected to the data output terminal of the input / output controller 134. From the input / output controller 134, externally input file image data is input to the selector 132. Selector 1
The output terminals of the 32 are connected to the input / output controller 134 and the data input terminals of the image processor units 136A and 136B, respectively. The selector 132 can selectively output the input image data to each of the input / output controller 134 and the image processors 136A and 136B.

The image processor section 136A includes a memory controller 138, an image processor 140 as an image processing section of the present invention, and three frame memories 142A, 142B, 142C as first storage means of the present invention. Frame memories 142A, 142B, 14
2C has a capacity capable of storing image data of a film image for one frame, and the image data input from the selector 132 is stored in any of the three frame memories 142. Controls the address at which the image data is stored in the frame memory 142 such that the data of each pixel of the input image data is stored in the storage area of the frame memory 142 in a fixed order.

The image processor 140 takes in the image data stored in the frame memory 142, and performs image enlargement / reduction processing and hypertone processing (highlights are skipped white or shadows are blackened due to dynamic range compression of image signals). For example, a process for improving sharpness is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 9-18704, and a process for enhancing sharpness by increasing the degree of emphasis on high-frequency components of an image while suppressing graininess. Various types of image processing such as enhancement processing such as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-22460, and conversion processing such as gradation conversion and color conversion are performed. Note that the processing conditions of the above image processing are automatically calculated by an auto setup engine 144 (described later), and the image processing is performed according to the calculated processing conditions. The image processor 140 is connected to the input / output controller 134, and the image data subjected to the image processing is temporarily stored in the frame memory 142, and then stored at a predetermined timing.
Output to The image processor 136B
Has the same configuration as the above-described image processor unit 136A, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, each line image is read twice by the line CCD scanner 14 at different resolutions. In the first reading at a relatively low resolution (hereinafter referred to as pre-scan), even when the density of the film image is extremely low (for example, a negative image overexposed on a negative film), a line CCD is used.
The reading of the film image is performed under the reading conditions (light amounts of the light irradiating the photographic film in each of the R, G, and B wavelength ranges, and the charge storage time of the CCD) determined so as not to cause the saturation of the stored charge in 116. . The image data (pre-scan image data) obtained by the pre-scan is input from the selector 132 to the input / output controller 134, and further output to the auto setup engine 144 connected to the input / output controller 134.

The auto setup engine 144 uses C
PU 146, RAM 148 (for example, DRAM), ROM
150 (for example, a rewritable ROM) and an input / output port 152, which are connected to each other via a bus 154.

The auto set-up engine 144 reads a second relatively high resolution by the line CCD scanner 14 based on the pre-scanned image data of the film image for a plurality of frames input from the input / output controller 134 (hereinafter, referred to as a “high-resolution”). The processing conditions of image processing (enlargement / reduction processing, enhancement processing, conversion processing, etc.) on image data (fine scanning image data) obtained by fine scanning are calculated, and the calculated processing conditions are used as images of the image processor unit 136. Output to the processor 140.

In the calculation of the image processing conditions, it is determined whether or not there are a plurality of film images of similar scenes based on the exposure amount at the time of photographing, the type of illuminating light source, and other characteristic amounts. If there are a plurality of film images obtained by photographing, the image processing conditions for fine scan image data of these film images are determined to be the same or similar.

The optimum processing conditions for image processing vary depending on whether the image data after image processing is used for recording an image on photographic paper in the laser printer unit 18 or output to the outside. Since the image processing unit 16 is provided with two image processor units 136A and 136B, for example, when the image data is used for recording an image on photographic paper and is output to the outside, the auto setup engine 144 is used. Calculates the optimal processing conditions for each application, and calculates the image processor units 136A and 136A.
Output to B. Thereby, the image processor unit 13
6A and 136B, the same fine scan image data is subjected to image processing under different processing conditions.

Further, the auto setup engine 144
Calculates an image recording parameter that defines a gray balance or the like when an image is recorded on photographic paper by the laser printer unit 18 based on the pre-scan image data of the film image input from the input / output controller 134, The image data is output simultaneously when the image data for recording (described later) is output to the printer unit 18. Further, the auto setup engine 144 calculates the processing conditions of the image processing for the file image data input from the outside in the same manner as described above.

The input / output controller 134 is an I / F circuit 1
It is connected to the laser printer section 18 via 56.
When the image data after image processing is used for recording an image on photographic paper, the image data processed by the image processor 136 is transferred from the input / output controller 134 via the I / F circuit 156 to the recording image. The data is output to the laser printer unit 18 as data. The auto setup engine 144 is connected to a personal computer 158. When the image data after the image processing is output to the outside as an image file, the image data processed by the image processor unit 136 is sent from the input / output controller 134 to the auto setup engine 144.
Is output to the personal computer 158 via the.

The personal computer 158 has a CPU
160, memory 162, display 164 and keyboard 166 as display means of the present invention (see also FIG. 2),
A hard disk 168, a CD-ROM driver 170,
A transport control section 172, an expansion slot 174, and an image compression / decompression section 176 are provided, and these are connected to each other via a bus 178. The transport controller 172 is connected to the film carrier 38 and controls the transport of the photographic film 22 by the film carrier 38. When an APS film is set on the film carrier 38, information (for example, image recording size) read from the magnetic layer of the APS film by the film carrier 38 is input.

A driver (not shown) for reading / writing data from / to a storage medium such as a memory card.
A communication control device for communicating with another information processing device is connected to the personal computer 158 via the expansion slot 174. When image data for output to the outside is input from the input / output controller 134, the image data is output to the outside (the driver, the communication control device, or the like) as an image file via the expansion slot 174. When file image data is input from outside via the expansion slot 174, the input file image data
4 to the input / output controller 134. In this case, the input / output controller 134 outputs the input file image data to the selector 132.

Further, the personal computer 158 has a function as a diagnostic means of the present invention, and when the power of the image processing section 16 is turned on, the image processor section 136 is provided.
A failure diagnosis process (details will be described later) for diagnosing the failure of.

The image processing section 16 outputs prescanned image data and the like to the personal computer 158,
The film image read by the line CCD scanner 14 is displayed on the display 164, or the image obtained by recording on the photographic paper is estimated and displayed on the display 164, and the operator can correct the image via the keyboard 166. When instructed, this can be reflected in the processing conditions of image processing.

(Configuration of Laser Printer Unit and Processor Unit) Next, the configuration of the laser printer unit 18 and the processor unit 20 will be described. FIG. 6 shows a laser printer unit 1.
The configuration of the optical system No. 8 is shown. Laser printer unit 1
Numeral 8 includes three laser light sources 210R, 210G, and 210B. The laser light source 210R is configured by a semiconductor laser (LD) that emits a laser beam having an R wavelength. The laser light source 210G includes an LD and a wavelength conversion element (SHG) that converts the laser light emitted from the LD into a laser light having a wavelength of １ ／, and a laser light having a wavelength of SHG to G. The emission wavelength of the LD is determined so that is emitted. Similarly, the laser light source 210B also includes an LD and an SHG, and the oscillation wavelength of the LD is determined so that a laser beam having a wavelength of B is emitted from the SHG.

Laser light sources 210R, 210G, 210B
The collimator lens 212,
An acousto-optic light modulator (AOM) 214 is arranged in order. The AOM 214 is arranged so that the incident laser light passes through the acousto-optic medium, and is connected to the AOM driver 216 (see FIG. 7). When the high frequency signal is input from the AOM driver 216, the AOM 214 Ultrasonic waves according to the high-frequency signal propagate in the optical medium, and an acousto-optic effect acts on the laser light transmitted through the acousto-optic medium to cause diffraction, and a laser beam having an intensity corresponding to the amplitude of the high-frequency signal is generated by the AOM 214. Is emitted as diffracted light.

A polygon mirror 218 is disposed on the diffracted light emission side of the AOM 214. Three laser beams of R, G, and B wavelengths emitted as diffracted light from the respective AOMs 214 are reflected by the polygon mirror 218. The light is applied to substantially the same position on the surface and is reflected by the polygon mirror 218.
The fθ lens 220 and the plane mirror 222 are disposed on the laser light emission side of the polygon mirror 218. The three laser beams reflected by the polygon mirror 218 are transmitted through the fθ lens 220 and reflected by the plane mirror 222. Irradiated on photographic paper 224.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic configuration of an electric system of the laser printer section 18 and the processor section 20. The laser printer section 18 has a frame memory 230 for storing image data. The frame memory 230 is connected to the image processing unit 16 via the I / F circuit 232, and the recording image data (R, R, and R for each pixel of the image to be recorded on the photographic paper 224) input from the image processing unit 16 The image data representing the G and B densities are temporarily stored in the frame memory 230 via the I / F circuit 232. Frame memory 230
Are connected to an exposure unit 236 via a D / A converter 234 and to a printer unit control circuit 238.

The exposure section 236 has three laser light sources 210 composed of LDs (and SHGs) as described above, and also has three systems of AOM 214 and AOM driver 216. The polygon mirror 218 and polygon mirror 2
Main scanning unit 240 equipped with a motor for rotating 18
Is provided. The exposure unit 236 is connected to a printer unit control circuit 238, and the operation of each unit is controlled by the printer unit control circuit 238.

When recording an image on the photographic paper 224,
In order to record the image represented by the recording image data on the photographic paper 224 by scanning exposure, the printer control circuit 238 performs various operations on the recording image data based on the image recording parameters input from the image processing unit 16. To generate image data for scanning exposure, and
30. Then, the polygon mirror 218 of the exposure unit 236 is rotated, and the laser light sources 210R and 210R are rotated.
G and 210B, and emits the scanning exposure image data from the frame memory 230 to the D
Output to the exposure unit 236 via the / A converter 234.
Thus, the scanning exposure image data is converted into an analog signal and input to the exposure unit 236.

The AOM driver 216 changes the amplitude of the ultrasonic signal supplied to the AOM 214 according to the level of the input analog signal, and changes the intensity of the laser beam emitted from the AOM 214 as the diffracted light to the level of the analog signal (ie, The modulation is performed according to the R density, the G density, or the B density of each pixel of the image to be recorded on the photographic paper 224. Accordingly, the three AOMs 214 emit R, G, and B laser beams whose intensity is modulated in accordance with the R, G, and B densities of the image to be recorded on the photographic paper 224, and these laser beams are emitted from the polygon mirror 218. , Fθ lens 220, mirror 2
The photographic paper 224 is radiated through the photographic paper 22.

The main scanning is performed by scanning the irradiation position of each laser beam along the direction of arrow B in FIG. 6 with the rotation of the polygon mirror 218, and the printing paper 224 is moved along the direction of arrow C in FIG. The laser beam is sub-scanned by being conveyed at a constant speed, and the photographic paper 2 is scanned and exposed.
An image is recorded in 24. The photographic paper 224 on which the image is recorded by the scanning exposure is sent to the processor unit 20.

A printer unit driver 242 is connected to the printer unit control circuit 238, and the printer unit driver 242 has a fan 24 that blows air to the exposure unit 236.
4. A magazine motor 246 for pulling out the photographic paper stored in the magazine loaded in the laser printer unit from the magazine is connected. The printer control circuit 238 is connected to a back print unit 248 that prints characters and the like on the back surface of the printing paper 224. The operations of the fan 244, the magazine motor 246, and the back print unit 248 are controlled by the printer control circuit 238.

The printer control circuit 238 has a magazine sensor 250 for detecting the mounting and dismounting of a magazine in which unexposed photographic paper 224 is stored and the size of the photographic paper stored in the magazine. Operation panel 252 (see also FIG. 2) for inputting, processor unit 20
The densitometer 254 for measuring the density of the image visualized by processing such as development is connected to the processor unit control circuit 256 of the processor unit 20.

The processor control circuit 256 detects the passage of the photographic paper 224 conveyed through the photographic paper conveyance path in the machine of the processor 20, and detects the level of various processing liquids stored in the processing tank. Various sensors 258 for detecting the position and the like
Is connected.

The processor control circuit 256 includes:
A sorter 260 (see FIG. 2) for sorting the photographic paper discharged to the outside of the machine after completion of the processing such as development into a predetermined group, and a replenishing system 26 for replenishing a processing tank with a replenisher.
2. An automatic cleaning system 264 for cleaning rollers and the like is connected, and various pumps / solenoids 268 are connected via a processor driver 266. These sorters 260, replenishment systems 262, automatic cleaning systems 264, and various pumps / solenoids 26
The operation of 8 is controlled by the processor unit control circuit 256.

(Configuration of Image Processor) Next, the details of the image processor 140 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the image processor 140 includes a memory controller 5 for controlling the order of reading image data from the frame memories 142A, 142B, 142C.
0 is provided. The memory controller 50 reads a raster scan direction from the one of the frame memories 142A, 142B, and 142C (from a frame memory storing image data to be processed) in which a photographic film transport direction is a sub-scanning direction or the raster scan direction. The read address is controlled so that image data is read in an order along a scan direction different from the scan direction by 90 °.

The frame memories 142A, 142B, 14
The image data read from any of 2C is input to the switching unit 64A of the image processor 140. The switching unit 64A is configured by a switching element or the like, and outputs the input image data to the subsequent enlargement / reduction unit 52 or outputs the input image data to the switching unit 64B arranged on the image data output side of the enlargement / reduction unit 52. (Ie, the enlargement / reduction unit 52
Output without performing the processing in (1)) can be externally switched.

When the image data is input, the enlargement / reduction unit 52 applies the input image data to the image data in accordance with an enlargement / reduction ratio which is one of the processing conditions of the image processing input from the auto setup engine 144. The image is enlarged or reduced (enlargement / reduction processing) in a single direction along the input order of the image data. The image data output from the enlargement / reduction unit 52 is input to the switching unit 64B. The switching unit 64B is also configured by a switching element or the like, and outputs the input image data to the enhancement processing unit 56 at the subsequent stage or to the switching unit 64C arranged on the image data output side of the enhancement processing unit 56. (That is, whether to output without performing the processing in the enhancement processing unit 56) can be externally switched.

When the image data is input, the emphasis processing section 56 applies the image data to the input image data in accordance with the emphasis degree which is one of the processing conditions of the image processing input from the auto setup engine 144. And enhancement processing such as hypertone processing and hypersharpness processing in a single direction along the input order of. The image data output from the enhancement processing unit 56 is input to the switching unit 64C. The switching unit 64C is also configured by a switching element or the like, and outputs the input image data to the conversion unit 62 at the subsequent stage or uses the frame memories 142A, 142B, 142
C (ie, whether to output without performing the processing in the conversion unit 62) can be externally switched.

When the image data is input, the conversion unit 62 applies one of the processing conditions of the image processing input from the auto setup engine 144 to the input image data.
Conversion processing such as gradation conversion and color conversion based on the first gradation conversion condition. The image data subjected to the conversion processing by the conversion unit 62 is written to any of the frame memories 142A, 142B, 142C.

(Operation) Next, as an operation of the present embodiment, first, scan image data obtained by reading a film image by the line CCD scanner 14 or file image data input from the outside ( Processing when image data obtained by photographing with a digital camera, image data obtained by scanning a document other than a film image (reflective document, etc.) with a scanner, image data generated by a computer, etc.) are input Will be described.

In reading the film image, the line CCD scanner 14 performs a pre-scan in which each film image recorded on the photographic film is read at a relatively low resolution in order, and then reads each film image in a high resolution. Perform a scan. When performing image processing on scanned image data, the auto setup engine 1
Reference numeral 44 denotes processing conditions for image processing on fine scan image data of the same film image (image enlargement / reduction rate, image enlargement / reduction rate,
The degree of emphasis in the emphasis processing, gradation conversion conditions, etc.) are sequentially calculated for each film image.

When performing image processing on file image data, the auto setup engine 144
In order to reduce the time required for calculating the processing conditions of the image processing, resolution conversion is performed to convert file image data input from the outside via the input / output controller 134 to image data having the same resolution as the prescanned image data. After that, the processing conditions of the image processing are sequentially calculated for each image in the same manner as described above.

The processing conditions of the image processing calculated by the auto setup engine 144 are transferred to the personal computer 158 together with the image data. The personal computer 158 performs, on the transferred image data, image processing equivalent to image processing (details will be described later) executed by the image processor 140 based on the processing conditions of the transferred image processing. An image represented by the performed image data is displayed on the display 164, and the operator is checked whether the processing conditions of the image processing calculated by the auto setup engine 144 are appropriate. Then, when information for instructing the correction of the processing condition is input via the keyboard 166, the auto setup engine 144
The processing conditions of the image processing calculated earlier are corrected according to the input correction instruction.

When the processing conditions of the image processing are determined as described above, image data (fine scan image data or file image data) to be subjected to the image processing is sequentially input to the image processing unit 16 in image units. The image data is input to the image processor 136 and the auto setup engine 144 via the input / output controller 134.

In the memory controller 138 of the image processor 136, three frame memories 142A,
Of the 142B and 142C, the frame memory for storing the input image data is sequentially switched for each image,
The image data input to the image processor unit 136 is sequentially stored in any of the frame memories 142A, 142B, and 142C. In addition, every time image data is input, the auto setup engine 144 stores the processing conditions of the image processing corresponding to the input image data in the RAM 14.
8 and output to the image processor 140 of the image processor unit 136.

When the processing conditions of the image processing are input from the auto setup engine 144, the memory controller 50 of the image processor 140 first sets the image data corresponding to the input processing conditions in the horizontal direction in pixel units. As shown in FIG.
(See arrow (A)), image data is sequentially read from the frame memory while switching the read address, and the read image data is sequentially input to the enlargement / reduction unit 52 via the switching unit 64A.

In the enlargement / reduction unit 52, according to the enlargement / reduction ratio input from the auto setup engine 144,
Enlargement / reduction processing is performed on the input image data in a single direction (in this case, the horizontal direction) along the input order of the image data.

In the enlargement / reduction processing in a single direction along the input order of image data, for example, the enlargement / reduction rate is 12
If 0%, the image data may be converted into image data with a pixel interval of 5/6 along the single direction. Specifically, five consecutively input pixels (in this case, five pixels) Can be realized by interpolating data of six pixels having a pixel interval of 5/6 from data of five pixels arranged in the horizontal direction. For example, if the enlargement / reduction ratio is 80%,
The pixel interval along the single direction is 4/5
Specifically, the image data may be converted into the following image data. Specifically, data of five consecutively input pixels (in this case, five pixels arranged in the horizontal direction) is used to obtain a pixel interval of 4/5. This can be realized by performing an interpolation operation on the data of the four pixels.

The image data on which the enlargement / reduction processing in the horizontal direction has been performed by the enlargement / reduction section 52 is input to the enhancement processing section 56 via the switching section 64B. The enhancement processing unit 56 performs hypertone processing on the input image data in a single direction (horizontal direction in this case) along the input order of the image data in accordance with the enhancement degree input from the auto setup engine 144. And enhancement processing such as hyper sharpness processing. The image data output from the enhancement processing unit 56 is stored again in the same frame memory by the memory controller 50 via the switching unit 64C.

Subsequently, the memory controller 50 causes the data of each pixel of the image data stored in the frame memory to be read out in the order along the vertical direction in pixel units (for example, see the arrow in FIG. 9B). The image data is sequentially read from the frame memory while switching the read address, and the read image data is sequentially input to the enlargement / reduction unit 52 via the switching unit 64A.

Thus, the enlargement / reduction unit 52 enlarges / reduces the input image data in a single direction (in this case, the vertical direction) along the input order of the image data.
The reduction processing is performed, and the enhancement processing unit 56 performs enhancement processing on the input image data in a single direction (vertical direction) along the input order of the image data. The image data output from the enhancement processing unit 56 is input to the conversion unit 62 via the switching unit 64C, and
After conversion processing such as gradation conversion or color conversion based on the gradation conversion conditions determined in 44 is performed, the data is stored again in the same frame memory by the memory controller 50.

Thus, the image data is scanned once and the image data substantially equivalent to the case where the two-dimensional image processing (enlargement / reduction processing and enhancement processing) is performed according to the processing conditions calculated by the auto setup engine 144. Is obtained. In one-dimensional image processing (image processing in a single direction), the number of data handled in one operation is small, and the enlargement / reduction processing in the enlargement / reduction section 52 and the enhancement processing section 56 are performed.
Can be realized by simply processing the input image data in the order of input, so that the processing can be performed in a very short time.

When the one-dimensional image processing is performed twice by the image processor 140, the memory controller 50
Reads out the image data on which the image processing has been performed from the frame memory in a predetermined order (for example, reads out the image data in an order along the horizontal direction) and outputs it to the input / output controller 134.

In the present embodiment, when image data of a plurality of film images is sequentially input to the image processor unit 136, the image data of each film image is stored in the above-mentioned frame memory twice. Of the one-dimensional image processing and output processing of the image data from the frame memories are performed by three frame memories 142A and 142
B, 142C in parallel in a pipeline system. Thus, image processing on image data can be performed at high speed.

The image data to be subjected to image processing by the image processor 140 is high-resolution data, and the data amount is enormous.
Reference numeral 40 denotes a configuration in which image processing is performed by hardware, and image processing on image data is divided into two one-dimensional image processings. Further, image processing on each image is performed in parallel by a pipeline method. I'm going,
Image processing on the high-resolution image data in the image processor 140 is completed in a short time.

Next, a failure diagnosis for the image processor 136 will be described. As described above, the image processor 140 according to the present embodiment performs a plurality of types of image processing on input image data by a plurality of types of image processing circuits (for example, the enlargement / reduction unit 52 performs enlargement / reduction).
The reduction processing is performed, the enhancement processing is performed by the enhancement processing unit 56, and the conversion processing is performed by the conversion unit 62).

For this reason, in this embodiment, the hard disk 168 of the personal computer 158 has the following table 1 in order to diagnose the presence / absence of a failure independently for a plurality of types of image processing circuits of the image processor 140. As shown, corresponding to the plurality of types of image processing (image processing circuits), processing conditions for diagnosing image data D1 _IN , D2 _IN ,... Data and expected value image data D1
_OUT , D2 _OUT ,... Therefore, the hard disk 168 corresponds to the second storage unit of the present invention.

[0093]

[Table 1]

In Table 1, "○" indicates that data is set, and "-" indicates that no data is set. The diagnostic image data and the processing condition data are predetermined so that it is easy to determine whether there is a failure in the corresponding image processing circuit, and the expected value image data has no failure in the corresponding image processing circuit. Sometimes, the image processing circuit performs the image processing on the diagnostic image data in accordance with the processing condition represented by the processing condition data, and indicates a processing result.

As an example, as the diagnostic image data corresponding to the enlargement / reduction processing, the value of each pixel is “d ₁ , d ₂ ,
When image data set as “d ₃ , d ₄ , d ₅ , d ₆ , d ₇ , d ₈ ,...” is used, if the processing condition (enlargement / reduction ratio) represented by the processing condition data is 50%, The value of each pixel represented by the expected value image data is, for example, “d ₁ , d ₃ , d ₅ ,
d _7, d _9, ... "and is set, if the 200% treatment conditions (scaling rate) the processing condition data represents the value of each pixel representing the expected value image data is, for example," d _1, d _1, d ₂ ,
_{d 2, d 3, d 3} , d 4, d 4, is set to ... ".

Next, the C of the personal computer 158
FIG. 10 shows a failure diagnosis process executed by the PU 160.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The program is read out from the memory 162 and executed when, for example, the power of the digital laboratory system 10 is turned on or when the execution of the fault diagnosis process is instructed due to the occurrence of some abnormality. Is done.

In step 300, the frame memory 14
2. Check whether there is a failure. This means that, for example, data of a predetermined data length is written into the frame memory 142,
The reading of the written data and the collation of the written data with the read data can be realized by performing the same for all the storage areas of the frame memories 142A, 142B, and 142C. In the next step 302, it is determined whether or not there is any abnormality in the frame memory 142 based on the result of the check processing in step 300. For example, if there is a mismatch between the data written to the frame memory 142 and the data read from the frame memory 142, the determination in step 302 is denied and the process proceeds to step 324, where a message is displayed on the display 164, etc. Thus, the failure of the frame memory 142 is notified, and the failure diagnosis processing ends.

As a result, the operator can easily recognize that a failure has occurred in the frame memory 142, and can take measures such as replacing the frame memory 142, for example.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the frame memory 142 is normal, and if the determination in step 302 is affirmative, the flow shifts to step 304, and after step 304, the interface between the line CCD scanner 14 and the image processing section 16 is changed. Diagnose if there is a failure. That is, step 30
In 4, predetermined test pattern data stored in the hard disk 168 is read out, and the read test pattern data is transferred to the line CCD scanner 14. Ask to enter.

The line CCD scanner 14 and the image processing unit 1
If there is no failure in the interface with the scanner 6, the line CCD scanner 14 inputs the test pattern data to the image processing unit 16, and the test pattern data is transmitted to the image processor unit 136 via the line scanner correction unit 122 and the selector 132. Frame memory 142
Is stored. At this time, the CPU 160 prohibits the line scanner correction unit 122 from executing various corrections such as darkness correction. In the next step 306, the line CCD
The test pattern image data input from the scanner 14 and stored in the frame memory 142 is compared with the test pattern data transferred to the line CCD scanner 14.

In step 308, it is determined whether or not there is any abnormality in the interface between the line CCD scanner 14 and the image processing unit 16 based on the result of collating the test pattern data. For example, if there is a mismatch between the test pattern data written in the frame memory 142 and the test pattern data transferred to the line CCD scanner 14, the determination in step 308 is denied and the process proceeds to step 326, where The line CCD scanner 14 is displayed by displaying a message on the line 164 or the like.
Notification of an interface failure with the image processing unit 16,
The failure diagnosis processing ends.

As a result, the operator can easily recognize that a failure has occurred in the interface between the line CCD scanner 14 and the image processing section 16. For example, the operator can replace the I / F circuit 90 of the line CCD scanner 14 or It is possible to take measures such as repair and replacement or repair of the memory controller 138 of the image processor unit 136.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the interface between the line CCD scanner 14 and the image processing section 16 is also normal, and the determination in step 308 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 310. Of the various image processing circuits are diagnosed. That is, in step 310, diagnostic image data and processing condition data corresponding to any one of a plurality of types of image processing (hereinafter, referred to as specific image processing) are fetched from the hard disk 168. Next step 3
At 12, the fetched processing conditions are stored in the image processor 14.
0, and sets the fetched processing conditions in an image processing circuit that performs specific image processing (for example, if the specific image processing is image enlargement / reduction processing, the enlargement / reduction unit 52 sets the enlargement / reduction ratio). Do).

In step 314, the previous step 310
The diagnostic image data captured by the
Write to. In step 316, the image processor 140 switches the switching units 64A, 64B, and 64C so that only specific image processing is performed on the diagnostic image data written in the frame memory 142. Instructs execution of processing. Accordingly, the image processor 140 performs only specific image processing on the diagnostic image data and stores the diagnostic image data in the frame memory 142 again.

For example, if the specific image processing is enlargement / reduction processing, the image processor 140 converts the diagnostic image data fetched from the frame memory 142 into the switching unit 64.
The data is input to the enlargement / reduction unit 52 via A, and the enlargement / reduction unit 52 performs enlargement / reduction processing on the diagnostic image data according to the set enlargement / reduction ratio. The image data subjected to the enlargement / reduction processing by the enlargement / reduction unit 52 is output to the enhancement processing unit 56 and the conversion unit 6 by the switching units 64B and 64C.
2 (without performing an emphasis process, a conversion process, or the like), and is stored again in the frame memory 142.

For example, if the specific image processing is enhancement processing, the image processor 140 converts the diagnostic image data fetched from the frame memory 142 into the switching unit 6.
4A and 64B, without passing through the enlargement / reduction unit 52 (without performing enlargement / reduction processing), the enhancement processing unit 56
Is input to The emphasis processing section 56 performs emphasis processing on the diagnostic image data according to the set emphasis degree. Then, the image data subjected to the emphasizing process by the emphasizing unit 56 is re-stored in the frame memory 142 without passing through the converting unit 62 by the switching unit 64C (without performing a converting process such as gradation conversion). You.

For example, if the specific image processing is gradation conversion processing, the image processor 140 converts the diagnostic image data fetched from the frame memory 142 by the switching units 64A, 64B, 64C into the enlargement / reduction unit 52, The data is input to the conversion unit 62 without passing through the enhancement processing unit 56 (without performing the enlargement / reduction processing or the enhancement processing). The conversion unit 62 performs tone conversion on the diagnostic image data according to the set tone conversion conditions, and also performs other image processing such as color conversion. Then, the image data subjected to conversion processing such as gradation conversion by the conversion unit 62 is stored again in the frame memory 142.

In the next step 318, expected value image data corresponding to the specific image
Then, the image data obtained from step 8 and subjected to specific image processing and re-stored in the frame memory 142 is compared with the received expected value image data. In the next step 320, an image processing circuit (for example, an enlargement / reduction unit) for performing the specific image processing of the image processor 140 based on the result of collating the image data re-stored in the frame memory 142 with the expected value image data. It is determined whether there is no abnormality in 52).

When this determination is made, it is confirmed that no failure has occurred in the frame memory 142. Therefore, if there is a mismatch between the image data re-stored in the frame memory 142 and the expected value image data, It can be determined that a failure has occurred in the image processing circuit that performs the specific image processing. In such a case, the determination in step 320 is denied and the process proceeds to step 328, where an image processing circuit that performs a specific image processing between the line CCD scanner 14 and the image processing unit 16 by displaying a message on the display 164 or the like. Is notified, and the failure diagnosis processing ends.

As a result, the operator can easily recognize that a failure has occurred in the image processor 140, and the failed image processing circuit in the image processor 140 performs image processing for performing a specific image processing. It can be easily recognized as a processing circuit. Thereby, it is possible to take measures such as replacement of the image processing circuit, and it is not necessary to perform a work for identifying a faulty part. It is possible to reduce the time required for the process.

At this time, the image processor 140
Image of the electronic circuit board that constitutes the display 1
64, and the arrangement position of the image processing circuit that has been determined to have a failure has been superimposed and displayed on the image diagram, so that replacement or repair of the image processing circuit that has been determined to have a failure can be performed. This is preferable because the work of the operator becomes very easy.

On the other hand, if the determination in step 320 is affirmative, the flow shifts to step 322 to determine whether the above-described diagnostic processing has been performed for all of the plurality of types of image processing executed by the image processor 140. . If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 310, and the above-described diagnostic processing is repeated for image processing of which diagnostic processing has not been executed among the plurality of types of image processing. If the determination in step 322 is affirmative, the failure diagnosis processing ends.

In the above description, the personal computer 1
Although the case where the failure diagnosis processing is executed by the CPU 160 of the 58 is described, the invention is not limited to this.
For example, the failure diagnosis processing may be performed by the auto setup engine 144. In diagnosing whether there is a failure in the interface between the line CCD scanner 14 and the image processing device 16, the test pattern data is transferred from the image processing device 16 in the above description. The test pattern data may be stored in advance.

In the above description, the switching units 64A, 64B, 6
Although the image processing is performed only by the image processing circuit to be diagnosed in the image processor 140 by 4C, the image processing is not limited to this, and the image processing is performed by all the image processing circuits of the image processor 140 every time. At the same time, processing conditions may be set for image processing circuits that are not to be diagnosed so that image data after image processing is substantially the same as image data before image processing.

In the above description, the image processor 140
In correspondence with a plurality of types of image processing executed in the above, a plurality of types of diagnostic image data, processing condition data, and expected value image data are stored in the hard disk 168, and image processing of performing different types of image processing is performed in units of Diagnosis of the presence or absence of a failure has been made. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In particular, when the image processor 140 is formed of a single electronic circuit board, and when a failure occurs, the entire board is replaced. Alternatively, the diagnostic image data, the processing condition data, and the expected value image data may be stored one by one, and only the image processor 140 may diagnose whether or not a failure has occurred. The first aspect of the present invention includes the above-described embodiments in the scope of right.

[0116]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, predetermined diagnostic data is stored in the first storage means, and the diagnostic data is subjected to image processing by the image processing unit. The data corresponding to the result is re-stored in the first storage means, the data re-stored in the first storage means, and expected value data representing a processing result when the image processing is performed on the diagnostic data. Are compared with each other to diagnose the presence or absence of a failure. Therefore, there is an excellent effect that self-diagnosis of the presence or absence of a failure can be automatically performed with a simple configuration.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the presence or absence of a failure in the first storage means is diagnosed prior to the diagnosis of the presence or absence of a failure using the diagnostic data. In addition to the above, there is an effect that the presence or absence of a failure in the image processing unit can be reliably diagnosed without being affected by the presence or absence of a failure in the first storage unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, any one of a plurality of types of diagnostic data corresponding to a plurality of types of image processing performed by the image processing section is stored in the first storage means. In the first storage unit, only the predetermined image processing corresponding to the diagnostic data stored in the first storage unit is performed by the image processing unit, and the data corresponding to the processing result is stored again in the first storage unit. Diagnosing the presence or absence of a failure in a part of the image processing unit that performs predetermined image processing by comparing data re-stored in the means with expected value data corresponding to the diagnostic data stored in the first storage means Is performed for each of a plurality of types of image processing. In addition to the above-described effects, when the image processing unit is configured to perform a plurality of types of image processing on image data, a failure occurs in the image processing unit. To the operator when it happens Work of repairs, etc. can be easily that has the effect that.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the display means for displaying the diagnosis result of the failure by the diagnosis means is provided. This has the effect that it can be grasped.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the image processing section performs image processing on the diagnostic data in accordance with a predetermined processing condition, and outputs the expected value data to the diagnostic data. Since the data representing the processing result when the image processing is performed in accordance with the predetermined processing conditions is stored, in addition to the above-described effects, the image processing unit performs processing in accordance with the processing conditions calculated for the image data to be processed in image data units. Even in the case of a configuration for performing image processing, there is an effect that the presence or absence of a failure can be reliably diagnosed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a digital laboratory system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a digital laboratory system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of an optical system of the line CCD scanner.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electric system of the line CCD scanner.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image processing unit.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of an optical system of a laser printer unit.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an electric system of a laser printer unit and a processor unit.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram conceptually showing the internal configuration of an image processor.

9A is a conceptual diagram illustrating reading of image data in an order along a horizontal direction, and FIG. 9B is a conceptual diagram illustrating reading of image data in an order along a vertical direction.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a failure diagnosis process according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Digital Lab System 16 Image Processing Unit 136 Image Processor Unit 140 Image Processor 142 Frame Memory 158 Personal Computer 164 Display 168 Hard Disk

Claims (5)

[Claims] A first storage unit configured to store input image data; an image processing unit configured to perform image processing on the image data stored in the first storage unit; Second storage means for storing data and expected value data representing a processing result when the image processing is performed on the diagnostic data; and storing the diagnostic data in the first storage means. The image processing unit causes the image processing unit to perform image processing, and stores the data corresponding to the processing result in the first storage unit. Diagnostic means for diagnosing the presence or absence of the image. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diagnosis unit diagnoses the presence or absence of a failure in the first storage unit before diagnosing the presence or absence of a failure using the diagnostic data. apparatus. 3. The image processing unit performs a plurality of types of image processing on image data to be processed stored in the first storage unit, and the second storage unit stores diagnostic data and A plurality of types of expected value data corresponding to the diagnostic data are stored in correspondence with the plurality of types of image processing, and the diagnostic unit stores any one of the plurality of types of diagnostic data in the first type. 1 storage means, and only predetermined image processing corresponding to the diagnostic data stored in the first storage means is performed by the image processing unit among the plurality of types of image processing. 1 storage means, compares the data re-stored in the first storage means with expected value data corresponding to the diagnostic data stored in the first storage means, Whether there is a failure in the part that performs image processing That diagnosis, the image processing apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that each for the plurality of types of image processing. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit for displaying a diagnosis result of the presence or absence of a failure by said diagnosis unit. 5. The image processing unit performs image processing on image data to be processed in accordance with processing conditions calculated in units of image data, and performs image processing on the diagnostic data in accordance with predetermined processing conditions. Performing a process, wherein the second storage means stores, as the expected value data, data representing a processing result when image processing is performed on the diagnostic data in accordance with the predetermined processing condition. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: