JPS6139158A - Image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To synthetically process and to output a character graphic and an image data to various types of output devices or display device terminals of a computer by installing a character pattern and a graphic pattern generating circuit, an image data expanding compressing circuit, etc. CONSTITUTION:A main processor 1 of an image processing device mainly controls by means of a command from a high-order CPU. A memory 2 and a CPU interface 3 which store a program through an internal main bus 11 are connected to the processor 1. Character pattern and graphic pattern generating parts 4 and 5 having a character generator CG, and a pattern operation processor S-mup are connected to the bus 11. Further, a reducing, expanding and reading control part 8 is connected through an image data expanding circuit 6 and an image data compressing circuit 7 to the bus 11. An image memory 9 is connected through an image bus 12 to the generating parts 4 and 5 and the control part 8, and a character, fugure and an image data are synthetically processed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an image processing device that is connected as an additional device to a small computer system such as a digital computer.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

With the spread of facsimiles, computers are also imbued with images from facsimiles. That is, image data information that cannot be handled by character codes has become common information in recent OA (office automation). Image data information has a much larger amount of information than coded information, and therefore facsimile image data compression technology is used to transfer image data information.

However, compressing and decompressing image data requires a considerable amount of hardware, which increases costs, so not all computer input/output terminals can handle compressed image data, and only expensive equipment can handle it. It was possible.

Recently, with the advancement of office automation, it has become essential for low-priced printers to have an image output function, and it is desired that a device compatible with this function be developed.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an image processing device in the form of an additional device that can inexpensively and easily synthesize, process, and output text, graphic, and image data to various output devices or display terminals of a computer. The purpose is to provide.

[Summary of the invention]

The present invention provides a means for generating 4 bits of text and graphics that turns character codes and graphics codes into A' turns, respectively, and an image that expands compressed image data, enlarges/reduces it, and further cuts and outputs it. It has a data processing means, a means for developing various images obtained by these means on the same page memory, and a means for compressing the image data developed on the page memory and outputting it to the outside, Character patterns according to character codes, figure patterns according to figure codes,
It has an additional device configuration that can handle, synthesize, process, and output image data in an integrated manner.This allows, for example, a small computer that cannot handle text, graphics, and image data in an integrated manner. In the system, image processing functions can be easily and inexpensively expanded, and advanced image processing functions can be provided.

[Embodiments of the invention]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a main processor, which performs main control under instructions from a host CPU. A memory 2 has a storage area for the execution program of the main processor 1, a data buffer, parameters, a work area, etc. 3 is a CPU interface unit, which controls the interface with the upper path 10.

4 is a character pattern generation section which generates a character pattern based on the input character code and writes it into the page memory 9. Reference numeral 5 denotes a graphic pattern generation unit which generates a graphic pattern based on the input graphic code and writes it into the page memory 9.

6 is an image data decompression circuit, which decodes the compressed (■1a) image data into uncompressed data and restores it to the data before compression. 07 is an image data compression circuit, which compresses the input uncompressed data ( ME (, MR) code. 8 is the reduction/enlargement/cutting control section (hereinafter referred to as IC).
(referred to as C), the uncompressed data from the image data decompression circuit 6 is subjected to reduction/enlargement processing (including density conversion) and written to the page memory 9, or the image data from the page memory 9 is cut out and subjected to reduction/enlargement processing. and sends it to the image data compression circuit 7. 9 is page memory,
Here, it is an image memory corresponding to a bit image of one page of output data on a print or display screen. 1
0 is an upper CPU path, which is a ///sline connecting the image processing device according to the present invention and the upper CPU. 11
is an internal main bus of the image processing device according to the present invention. 12 is an image bus, character pattern generation section 4
1 figure pattern generation section 5, engineering C08, etc. and page memory 9
and transfers various internal image data.

do.

In this case, the above-mentioned character generation section 4 and graphic pattern generation section 5 are constituted by one microprocessor (S-μP) called a notan calculation processor and a character generator (CG), and the pattern calculation processor The S-μP has functions such as enlarging/reducing character patterns, and easy operations.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a composite output of characters, figures, and images developed on the page grid 9. As shown in FIG.

Here, the operation of one embodiment will be explained. The image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 performs various types of image processing as described below under the control of a main processor 1 in accordance with instructions from a host CPU.

1. Definition of page memory The main processor 1 defines the page memory 9 according to a command from the host CPU.

(1) Size of page memory 9 (X direction, Y direction)
designation.

The length can be defined in any unit from millimeters, inches, decipoints (1 to 20 inches), number of pixels, etc.

(2) Specify the density (X direction, Y direction) of page memory 9.

Dan-jimemory size is a length unit system (when it is not the number of pixels)
When given by , the number of pixels per unit length (for example, 240
/inch, 300/inch, 8/mm, etc.). This can be defined independently in the X and Y directions.

For subsequent page memory accesses, if the length is given, the access position can be calculated based on this density (pixel number calculation).

2. Upper CP for deploying various images to page memory 9
According to commands from U (including control codes, motherboards, and data), character codes, graphic codes, and image data are developed in the page memory 9 in the form of bit images.

The main processor 1 controls the development of the image into the image data 9 by selectively issuing operation commands to the character pattern generation section 4, figure/e-turn generation section 5, image data decompression circuit 6, ICC 8, etc. be done.

(1) For the character code, the main character code is sent from the main processor 1 to the slam processor (S-μP), including the expansion position on the page memory 9, character direction of expansion, basic character size,
Control parameters such as character magnification are sent, and each /4'
A character dog pattern is developed on the page memory 9 according to the parameter.

(2) For the figure code, control parameters such as the development position, line type, radius, angle, etc. on the page memory 9 are sent from the main processor 1 to the armpit calculation processor (S-μP), A graphic image pattern is developed on the page memory 9 according to each of these parameters. Also, specify hatching A within the specified area or figure closed area? It also has the ability to hatch in turns.

(3) For image data, the image development position and area, development direction, image type (compression (MW)
,, MR)/uncompressed), image density to reduction/enlargement magnification parameters are selectively supplied from the main processor 1 to the image data decompression circuit 6 and the ICCB. The image data input through the image data processing section 11 expands (compressed image data only), reduces/enlarges (including density conversion), and writes them onto the page memory 9.

<4) When forming each of the images (1), (2), and (3) on the page memory 9, multiple write modes (for example, LOAD, LOAD, OR, XOR, A
ND) can be executed.

3. Image data calculation on page memory 9 The data on page memory 9 is processed.

For example, image data transfer, rotation, area clearing,
Operations (LOAD, OR, AND, X0R), etc.

4. Image data transfer upper CP on page memory 9
In response to a command from U, the image data on the K-Z memory 9 is read and transferred to the host system at a specified image density.

(1) Image data of an arbitrary size is cut out from an arbitrary position on the page memory 9.

(2) The cropped image data is reduced/enlarged (including density conversion function) according to the specified reduction/enlargement ratio.
do.

(3) Compression mode depending on image type (display).

If ``Kite'' is specified, the data will be compressed using the corresponding compression mode.

(4) Transfer each processed data of (1), (2), and (3) to the upper system.

By providing an image processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention as described above in the center of a computer, it becomes possible to print complex images composed of various images even on low-cost devices connected to the computer. . Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, an image processing device in which images, characters, and figures are synthesized can be obtained, so that it can be widely used in various OA systems. Furthermore, the combined image data can be transmitted to a facsimile machine at a remote location via a line network, greatly expanding the range of uses.

Furthermore, since it has an image reduction/enlargement function, it is possible to obtain the same image size or any enlarged/reduced image size even for output devices and display devices with different resolutions.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described in detail above, the present invention provides an image processing device in the form of an additional device that can inexpensively and easily synthesize, process, and output character, graphic, and image data to various output devices or display terminals of one computer. Can be provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing examples of various image synthesis outputs in the above embodiment. 1... Main processor, 2... Memory, 3...
CPU interface unit, 4... Character nolin generation unit, 5... Graphic pattern generation unit, 6... Image data decompression circuit, 7... Image data compression circuit, 8...
・Reduction/enlargement/cropping control section (IOC,), 9・
...Page memory (PM), J□...Upper CPU log, 11...Internal main path, 12...Image size, S-μP...Rigtan calculation processor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] An interface unit that receives character codes and graphic codes from a host device and inputs and outputs image data to and from the host device, and a character pattern generating means that generates a character pattern based on the character code received by the interface unit. a graphic pattern generation means for generating a graphic pattern based on the graphic code received by the interface section; an image data decompression circuit for decompressing the compressed image data received by the interface section; control means for selectively reducing, enlarging, and cropping the image data, and an image memory in which the character pattern, the graphic pattern, and the image data output from the control means are superimposed and developed on the same surface. and an image data compression circuit that selectively compresses the composite image developed on the image memory and delivers the compressed image to the interface unit.