JPS6123469A - Digital color copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain different recording color by selecting any of non-gradation and multi-gradation recording ink color signals and using it as a recording head drive signal. CONSTITUTION:A 4-bit color signal generating circuit 56 converts a 64-gradation signal of an output of an A/D converter 53 into a 4-bit 16-gradation digital color signal and gives it to a multi-gradation recording ink signal processing circuit 7. A processing circuit 7 converts and outputs multi-gradation recording ink signals C2, M2, Y2, BK2 of C, M, Y, BK having a desired gradation based on 4-bit R, G, B signals inputted thereto. An output multiplexer 8 selects either of the non-gradation and a multi-gradation recording ink color signal and the result is fed to a digital color recording section 9 as recording head drive signals CO, MO, YO, BKO.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a digital color copying machine,
In particular, the present invention relates to a digital color copying machine that can reproduce and record by switching recording inks corresponding to each color tone of an original image.

More specifically, the present invention can, for example, record the red and green parts of the original image in the same colors of red and green, respectively, or record them in yellow and black, which are different from the colors of the original image. This article relates to a digital color copying machine that can be used for various purposes.

(Prior Art) Conventional digital color copying machines include a non-gradation recording method and a multi-gradation recording method.

In a digital color copying machine using a non-gradation recording method, recording ink signals for multiple colors (for example, cyan, magenta, and yellow) are used to print each color for each pixel or pixel group. A 1-bit information that determines whether or not to print is output, and recording printing for each color is performed based on this information.

On the other hand, digital color copying machines with a multi-tone recording method use multiple colors (for example, three colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow).
Using the recording ink signal, outputs multi-bit, multi-gradation information that determines the density of each color to be printed for each pixel or pixel group, and prints each color based on this. Let's do it.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional non-gradation type digital color copying machine.

Although not shown, the original image has multiple types of color dimming, for example, red (hereinafter abbreviated as R), green (hereinafter abbreviated as G), and blue (hereinafter abbreviated as B). Sequentially illuminated with colored lights.

The image sensor 51 reads each pixel in units of one scanning line or one screen while the original image is illuminated with light of one color, and generates an analog signal according to the intensity of the reflected light.

After the analog signal is amplified by an amplifier 52, the analog signal is
The D converter 53 converts it into, for example, a 6-bit, 64-gradation digital signal. Gradationless digital color signal generation circuit 54
converts the digital signal to 1 bit, 2 gradations, i.e. I
Q II, ll l. It is converted into a front corner toning signal of Il.

It is clear that the toneless digital color signal as described above can also be obtained by directly converting the analog output of the amplifier 52 into a binary signal.

R. G. For the illumination light of each color tone of B, the non-gradation digital color signals obtained through the procedure described above are supplied to the non-gradation recording ink signal generation circuit 6.

The non-gradation recording ink signal generation circuit 6 has an R.

G. According to each input (ii 1 u or O'') combination of B, the recording ink signal CO as shown in Table 1 is generated.

M.O. Generates YO and BKO.

That is, for example, the input signal R. to the toneless recording ink signal generation circuit 6. G. B is *Ou, 111 II.

If II 1 Il, a recording ink signal CO of cyan (hereinafter abbreviated as C) is generated, and a recording color of C is obtained by the digital color recording section 9'.

Further, the input signal R. G. B is 11 1 Il.

′ “O”, “1” is magenta (hereinafter abbreviated as M)
The recording ink signal MO is generated, and a recording color of M is obtained by the digital power=6-color recording section 9.

In Table 1, Y is yellow, W is white, and B
K is hailing black. The same applies to the following description.

The digital color recording section 9 may be any suitable known type (for example, a thermal transfer type or an inkjet type), and performs gradationless color recording in accordance with the recording ink signal.

Also, in a digital color copying machine for multi-gradation recording, the recording ink signals Go, MO, YO are similarly used.

BKO is generated, but in this case, a multi-gradation recording ink signal generation circuit is provided in place of the non-gradation recording ink signal generation circuit 6, and the recording ink signals are also generated, for example, "l Q I+,"
“It is output in three gradations: 111+ and 112+1.

-F As mentioned above, color images with no gradation or multiple gradations can be obtained using conventional digital color copying machines.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The above-mentioned conventional technology had the following problems.

For example, bar graphs, pie charts, pasted pictures, etc.
Although it is sometimes desired to record by changing the display color of each part, this is not possible.

Further, it is not possible to selectively perform multi-gradation recording and non-gradation recording with one digital color copying machine.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems.

(Means and operations for solving the problems) In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a combination of color signals obtained from a digital color signal converting means for converting an analog signal read by a prime mover into a digital color signal. 1'<Door-8/Record color I
A recording color grooving table to be output 'l', a pattern table to which the recording color signal is input as a parameter and a recording ink color signal is read out as an output, and a pattern table to which the recording ink color signal is supplied and ink of a specified tone is input. The present invention is characterized in that it includes a digital color recording section that performs recording for each pixel, and means for changing the recording color signal outputted from the combination of color signals from the digital color signal converting means.

(Example) The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

In this figure, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 2 represent the same or equivalent parts.

The 2-bit color signal generation circuit 55 converts the 64-gradation signal output from the A/D converter 53 into, for example, 2-bit/3-gradation (“
Q 11 , 11 l I+, "2") digital color signals.The three-gradation color signals are supplied to the recording color grooving daple 2.

The recording color grooving table 2 is composed of, for example, a RAM (random access memory), and in the standard color recording mode (normal operation mode in which color conversion is not specified), the recording color grooving table 2 includes, for example, a second table. A conversion table like this is stored.

Therefore, when the recording color grooving table 2 is supplied with the three-gradation R, G, and B signals in the input signal column of Table 2, the recording color grooving table 2 receives the recording color signals (W, R, G, and B) in the corresponding output column.
, B, C, M, Y, BK).

The pattern table 4 is also composed of, for example, a RAM, and a conversion table such as Table 3 is stored therein.

That is, the pattern table 4 uses the recording colors @C, M, Y, R, G, B, BK, and W in the left column of Table 3 as parameters, and the CI and M of the corresponding recording ink color signals.
Outputs l, Yl, and BKI signals.

- In Table 3, 11111 means that the color ink is used for recording, and 0'' means that the color ink is not used for recording.

For example, the output signals R, G, and B of the 2-bit color signal generation circuit 55 for a certain pixel (dot) are 111! .

2u, 111 II, the output of the recording color grooving table 2 is the recording color G from Table 2.
becomes.

Then, from Table 3, the output of pattern table 4 is C
Since the recording ink color signals of 1 and Yl are 1'' and the other recording ink color signals are 0'', the pixel will be recorded in C and Y, resulting in a G recording color.

If you specify color conversion and want to record B in G and G in R, and also erase the R part (that is, change it to W) in a different tone than in the standard color recording mode, use the above procedure. It would be better to rewrite the memory contents of the recorded color grooving table 2.

Specifically, in Table 2, B is changed to G, G is changed to R, and R is changed to W.
You can rewrite each as .

The rewriting of the recording color grooving table 2 described above is as follows:
This can be easily performed using a known method using a color conversion designation circuit 1 provided on an operation console (not shown).

In order to instruct color conversion, it is convenient to prepare a touch sensor type color conversion matrix diagram as exemplified in FIG. 3 on the panel on the operation desk.

In FIG. 3, the horizontal axis is the color on the original image, and the vertical axis is the recorded color. Further, the mark O in FIG. 3 is a setting example for the standard color recording mode, in which the recorded color is set to be the same as the tone on the original image.

On the other hand, the X marks are settings for recording B on the original image with G, G with R, and erasing the R portion (that is, changing it to W).

Next, the 4-bit color signal generation circuit 56 in FIG.
For example, the 64-gradation signal which is the output of the D converter 53 is
Converts to a bit/16 gradation digital color signal. Said 4
The bit digital color signal is supplied to a multi-gradation recording ink signal processing circuit 7.

The multi-gradation recording ink signal processing circuit 7 generates a desired gradation (for example, "l Q II") based on the combination of the input 4-bit R, G, and B signals.

1 (I II, 112) 1, 11311-4
C9M, Y, BK multi-gradation recording ink color signal C2°M2. Y2. Convert and output BK2. Since the configuration and operation for this purpose are well known, their explanation will be omitted here.

As described above, one of the non-gradation and multi-gradation recording ink color signals outputted is selected by the output multiplexer 8, and digitally output as the recording head drive signals Co, MO, YO, and BKO. It is supplied to the color recording section 9. The digital color recording section 9 records and outputs a non-gradation or multi-gradation color image using a known appropriate method.

(Modifications) The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented with the following modifications.

(1) RlG to the recording color grooving table 2;
8 input signals may be 1 bit (0 or 1), and the conversion table stored in the recording color grooving table 2 may have the contents of the input signal versus recording color signal in Table 1.

(2) Rl to the recording color grooving table 2
The number of gradations of the G and B input signals is 2'' or 3'' as described above.
It is not limited to ``, but can be set arbitrarily.

(3) To rewrite the contents of the recorded color grooving table 2, instead of directly rewriting the contents as described above, prepare several types of tables in the same format as Table 2 and store them in an appropriate memory. , these may be replaced by control from an operator console.

(4) Color conversion can also be performed by rewriting the pattern table in Table 3 above. That is, for example, Y
When an instruction is given to convert into G, the Y column in Table 3 has the same contents as the G column, in other words, CI, Ml, Yl,
Kl respectively “111I.

“I Q 11. Just rewrite it as “1” and “0°”.

(The 514-bit color signal generation circuit 56 is omitted, and the input digital color signal to the multi-gradation recording ink signal processing circuit 7 is supplied from the 2-bit color signal generation circuit 55, as shown in FIG. 4. Note that since the operation in this case is clear from the explanation regarding FIG. 1, repeated explanation will be omitted.

(6) In the case of multi-gradation recording, recording ink conversion can be similarly performed by preparing the recording color grooving table 2 and pattern table 4.

(7) C, M, omitting BK as a recording color signal.

A mixture of three colors of Y may be used instead.

(8) In the above, it is assumed that the original image is read using R, G, and 83 types of color modulated light, and that recording is performed using four color inks, C, M, Y, and BK. Of course, any color may be used as long as the color tone is complementary. Further, the types of illumination light and recording ink may be two types.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the following effects are achieved.

(1) Since the recorded color can be arbitrarily made different from the color tone on the original image, it is easy to convert the display color of bar graphs, pie charts, etc., or to erase parts of them.

(2) R input to the recording color grooving table
If the IG and B signals have three or more gradations, recording colors can be precisely determined in the case of non-gradation recording. That is, even if the color tone of the original image is discolored or brownish, or if there are variations in printed color, these can be corrected to obtain a reproduced record with the desired correct color tone.

(3) It is possible to easily switch between non-gradation recording and multi-gradation recording.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional non-gradation digital color copying machine, and Fig. 3 is a touch sensor type copying machine provided on a panel on an operation desk. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Color conversion specification circuit, 2... Recording color grooving table, 4... Pattern table, 7... Multi-gradation recording ink signal processing circuit, 8... Output multiplexer, 9... Digital Color recording section, 51... Image sensor, 53... A/D converter, 54... Gradationless digital color signal generation circuit, 55... 2-bit color signal generation circuit, 56...4 Bit color signal generation circuit No. 6
Table 2

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) The original image illuminated with multiple types of different color dimming,
an image sensor that scans each pixel to generate color-separated analog signals corresponding to each color dimming for each pixel; a means for converting the analog signal into a digital color signal; and a means for converting the digital color signal. a recording color grouping table into which combinations of digital color signals of are input as parameters and read out with recording color signals as output; and a pattern table into which the recording color signals are input as parameters and read out with recording ink color signals as output. , a digital color recording section that is supplied with the recording ink color signal and performs recording pixel by pixel with ink of a designated color tone, and a recording ink color that is output based on the combination of color signals from the digital color signal conversion means; A digital color copying machine characterized by comprising: means for changing a signal. (2) The means for changing the recording ink color signal output for the combination of color signals from the digital color signal converting means is configured to change the recording ink color signal output for the combination of the digital color signals from the digital color signal converting means. The digital color copying machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the recording color signal output from the grouping table is changed. (3) The means for changing the recording ink color signals output in response to the combination of color signals from the digital color signal converting means changes the combination of recording ink color signals corresponding to the recording colors in the pattern table. A digital color copying machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: (4) The recording by the digital color recording unit is performed by superimposing ink of one or more designated colors on a single pixel position.
The digital color copying machine according to any one of items 1 to 3. (5) Recording by the digital color recording section is performed by recording each constituent pixel of a pixel group consisting of a predetermined number with ink of a designated color tone, respectively. 3. The digital color copying machine according to any one of items 3 to 3.