JPS6085679A - Picture processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable to suitably control the picture element density of the picture information is accordance with the system by providing the 1st and 2nd output means outputting the picture information and providing the control means to control the picture element density conversion of the picture information so as to output for the 1st output means by the 1st picture element density. CONSTITUTION:At first, at the initial time just after inputting power supply, WS lifts the information (image dissector degree, size of output sheet, etc.) from the status register of the device such as the input/output device, etc., and which devices are connected is detected by using the memory table at the WS side. The input device 2 automatically changes the input image dissector degree in accordance with the input selection information, for example, by thinning out the picture element information of CCD, etc., and sends out the input information to WS. The input information is stored at the WS main memory 34. By the above-mentioned step, the information applicable to the output device is obtained. Therefore, in the step 7, the information is transferred from the main memory 34 and is outputted in the output device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to an image processing system capable of optimally controlling the pixel density of image information depending on the system.

[Prior art]

In conventional image information processing systems, both the input device and the output device are configured with fixed input density and output density, and the input density of the input device is 8, 12,
16 In the case of the present resolution, the output device also has N of the input device.
A resolution corresponding to the drinking level is required, the system configuration is inflexible, and in a system consisting of one input device and multiple output devices, it is difficult to connect output devices with different resolutions. Or, if output devices with different resolutions are connected, there may be a large difference ('1') between the input and output information.
If information input from an input device with a resolution of 16 lines per i+m is output as is to an output device with a resolution of 12 lines per i+m, the output area will be 16712 times larger than the input area. ), which had the disadvantage that optimal output could not be obtained.

〔the purpose〕

In view of the above points, it is an object of the present invention to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks and provide an image-by-image processing system that can optimally control the pixel density of image information depending on the system.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external connection diagram of an image processing system to which the present invention is applied. Reference numeral 1 denotes a control unit (referred to as a work station) which includes a microcomputer for system control, an internal memory composed of RAM, aoM, etc., and an external memory composed of a floppy disk, a cartridge disk, etc. 2 is the input section of the digital copying machine that inputs COD information such as photos, maps, pictures, original documents, etc. placed on the manuscript table.
3 is converted into an electrical signal by an image sensor such as a document reader whose resolution is variable according to instructions from the operating section of the workstation or reader, and 3 is an output section of a digital copying machine which converts the image into an electrical signal of a laser beam printer or the like. This is a high-speed printer that records an image on a recording material based on the information obtained. 4 is
It is an image file that has a storage medium such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk, and can write and read much-acclaimed image information. 5 is equipped with a microfilm search unit and a microfilm reader unit that converts the searched image information on the microfilm into an electronic (1'i) format using an image sensor. 6 is a transparent conductive strip-shaped It has a photosensitive belt with a photoconductor layer on a substrate, and by irradiating the photoconductive layer with a laser beam modulated according to the input one-image signal through the substrate, electrostatic charges are generated according to the brightness and darkness of both one-image signals. A high-resolution method that forms a latent image on a photoconductive layer and develops the formed latent image with conductive and magnetic toner (developer) held on a toner carrier to form a display image. It is a soft display.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that the reader and solution degree are equal. Reference numeral 7 denotes a printer device such as a laser beam printer similar to the printer 3, but it is smaller and slower than the printer 3, and can be installed as needed. Note that printer 3
, 7, etc. may have different output resolutions, and can be used for cases where high resolution is required, such as for photographs, and cases where low resolution is sufficient, such as for characters. Reference numeral 8 denotes a CRT device that displays image information photoelectrically read by a digital camera and a microfilm file input scanner (reader), or system control information. Reference numeral 9 denotes a switching device that switches the connection between each input/output device by a signal from the control section 1. Cables 10 to 18 electrically connect each input/output device. Further, 20 is a keyboard provided in the control unit 1, 44 is a position of the CRT 8,
This is a pointing device for inputting information, and by operating the keyboard 20 and pointing device 44, system operation commands such as pixel density conversion are performed. Reference numeral 21 is an operation panel for issuing operation commands for the digital photographic device, and the number of copies to be made.

It has setting keys for copy magnification, 2-picture density, etc., a copy key 25 for instructing the start of copying, a numeric display, and the like. Reference numeral 22 is a mode changeover switch, which controls the activation of the reader side.
This is a switch that allows you to do so. 23.2
Reference numeral 4 denotes an indicator consisting of a light emitting diode (LED) for displaying the mode selection state of the mode changeover switch 22. In addition, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 1, the scale of the system, such as the number of W8s, is not limited to this.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the image processing system shown in FIG. Each block corresponding to that in FIG. 1 is given the same number as in FIG. 1. First, each block in the control unit 1 will be explained. Reference numeral 031 denotes a keyboard, which corresponds to the keyboard 20 shown in the first diagram, and the operator inputs system operation commands using this keyboard 31. 32 is a microcomputer (for example, Motorola 68000)
It is a central processing unit (CPU) consisting of.

Mo33 is a read-only ROM, and
The PU 32 performs control operations according to the program written in the ROM 33. 34 is 2 random access memory RA
M, which is used as a working memory of the CPU 32 and a page memory (main memory) for storing image signals exchanged between each input/output unit. Reference numeral 35 denotes an external memory consisting of a floppy disk, which can store system control programs, a database for image retrieval from drawing files, etc., which will be described later. Reference numeral 36 denotes a communication interface that enables expansion of the system and exchange of information with other similar systems or terminals using a communication line such as a local area network. 37 is an input/output interface that accomplishes information exchange between the control unit 1 and the switching device 9. 39 is an optical disk interface for exchanging information with the image file 4, and 40 is a CRT for exchanging information with the CBr4.
It is an interface. Reference numeral 41 denotes a 16-pit bus through which signals are transferred from each block within the control section 1. 11 to 18 are cables that electrically connect each input/output device as described above, and control signals and image signals are transmitted. Note that the arrow on the cable indicates the flow of the image tS signal.

Also, the flow of control signals is bidirectional in the cable. As is clear from the figure, a digital copy reader 2 and a high-speed link 3, a microfilm file 5, a soft display 6° and a small printer 7 are each connected to a switching device 9 by means of cables IL 12, 15, 16, 10. It is further connected to the input/output interface 37 of the control unit 1 by a cable 13.14.The module, the image file 4 and the CRT 8 are each connected to each interface 39.40 of the control unit 1 by a cable 17.18. The CRT 8 is provided with a display RAM 43 for storing image information to be displayed.Also, the switching device 9 outputs both times (No. 8 is a /real signal, and the control unit 1
Since the information on the bus 41 is a parallel 1 full signal, the input/output interface 37 is provided with a serial->parallel register for taking in image 46 and a parallel->serial register for outputting image fHN.

The image number δ output from the document reader 2 or the microfilm file 5 is input to the input/output interface 37 of the control unit 1 via the switching device 9 every l line. The input/output interface 37 converts the serially input double-open signal into a variable Jv signal of every 16 bits and sends it to the bus 4.
Output on 1. Both images No. 8- outputted onto the bus 41 are sequentially input one page into the artist area of the RAM 34. The 1iji image signal stored in the RAM 34 in this way is outputted to the bus 41 again, and the communication interface 3
6 or sent to the image file 4 via the disk interface 39 and written to the optical disk 9, still input/output interface 37
is output to the switching device 9 via ? j6 N printer 3
, a soft display 6 or a printer 7 for image formation.

In addition, the image signals read from the optical disk of image 1:p and file 4 are transferred to the RAM 34, and then sent to the high-speed printer 3, soft display 6, or small printer via the input/output interface 37 by the switching device 9. 7.

Note that the image signals ii;j from the original fabric S reader 2 or the microfilm file 5 are selectively sent to the high-speed printer 3. It is also possible to directly transmit the data to either the soft display 6 or the small printer 7 in a mode suitable for each. That is, when a simple copying operation is desired, since the image file 4 and CRT 8 are not required, the image number from, for example, the document reader 2 is directly supplied to the crystal speed link 3 without going through the control section 1. It executes a real-time copy operation. This mode is called bus mode.

The control related to the transmission of the image signal described above is executed by the CPU 32 in accordance with the operation command input by the operator using the keyboard 31.

The above system is configured so that a plurality of output devices having different resolutions (image densities) can share and use one input device. FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the present invention. First, in step 1, at the initial time immediately after power is turned on, the WS collects information (resolution, output paper size, etc.) from the status register of devices such as input/output devices, and uses the memory table on the WS side to determine which Detects whether such devices are connected. Next, when the WS is used to select the output device that the Osarater wants to output (step 2), the WS
In step 3), the input device 2 sends input selection information suitable for the resolution of the output device to the input device 2.The input device 2 adjusts the input resolution based on the input selection information, for example, by thinning out the pixel information of the CCD. The input information is automatically changed and sent to the WS (step 4). Then, in step 5, the above input information is stored in the main memory 34 of the WS. Note that the image may be saved in the image file 4. Furthermore, if new input information is to be processed/edited, it is done manually (step 6). Since information suitable for the output device has been obtained through 0 or more steps, the information is transferred from the main memory 34 and output in step 7. Output on the device.

@f, Figure 4 shows another flowchart of the present invention.

Step 1. Step 2 is the same as the flowchart in FIG. Next, in step 3, the input information is stored in the main memory 34.

If saved, it may also be stored in the artist file 4. Then, in step 4, perform processing/editing if necessary, and then in step 5, determine the resolution on the input device side and the 8'F (& degree) on the output side by comparing the status, and if they are different, In step 6, if it is necessary to set the pixel density to 75%, for example, when transferring information from the main memory 34 to the output device, 1 bit is thinned out for every 4 bits in each of the vertical and horizontal directions. In step 6, the pixel density is appropriate for the output side, but if the user outputs the desired pixel density, further processing such as thinning is performed in step 7, and in step 8 the output device is In addition, even when the resolution is controlled on the input side as shown in Figure 4, the image information is configured to be input at the desired resolution, as in Figure 4. By doing so, it is possible to output at the desired resolution on the output side.

Note that the case of output from the reader 2, which is the image information input device in FIGS. 1 and 2, to the output device surface 3-iii
In the case of the small mode, as described above, it is possible to output directly to the output device 3 at a desired pixel density using the operation panel 21.

〔effect〕

As described above in detail, the present invention provides an image processing system capable of producing images.

tree

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an external connection diagram of the image processing system. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the image processing system. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flowchart for applying the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another flowchart for applying the present invention. l is the workstation, 32 is the CPU, 2 is the reader,
3 and 7 are printers, 8 is CRT, 4 is image file, 3
4 is RAh/i. Applicant Canon Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

Scope of Claims: (1) A generating means for generating image information; a first generating means for outputting image information based on the image information from the generating means; An image processing system comprising a second output means, and the first output means includes a control means for controlling pixel density conversion of image information so as to output the image information at a first image density. (2. In Claim 1, the first output means) is based on information from the operation means of the image reading device,
An image processing system characterized by being capable of outputting at a desired pixel density. (6) In claim 1, the image generating means is a disk or an image reading device storing a plurality of pages of image information; An image processing system characterized in that the second output means is an output device having a different resolution for outputting the image information. (4) The image unit processing system according to claim 1, wherein the control means performs desired scaling (converting pixel density according to the scaling input of the control means).