JPS6158868B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method of inputting data information to be stored in a storage device or the like, and the present invention relates to a method of inputting data information to be stored in a storage device, etc. Regarding how to enter information.

The method of the present invention can be applied, for example, to a color separation image scanning recording device for plate making, a so-called color scanner, as a means for inputting basic data information used for arithmetic processing of image signals into a storage device.

Such basic data information in a color scanner for plate making includes, for example, a logarithmic function for converting light amount values that change depending on the gradation of the original image into density values, and calculation processing such as color correction and gradation correction. various types of information, such as an inverse logarithm function for reconverting the density value after printing into a light amount control value for the recording side exposure means, tone gradation data for tone correction, halftone characteristic data for recording halftone plates, etc. There is something like that. Color scanners, which have become popular in recent years as devices that digitize and process image signals, store this basic data information in the form of digital signals in a storage device and read it out as needed. , is often used as a coefficient during arithmetic processing of image signals.

However, these data information are rarely constant numerical values, and are mostly numerical values that change in response to changes in the image signal to be processed, so it is difficult to input them into a storage device. , is quite a tedious task.

For example, Fig. 1 is an example of a graph showing the characteristics of halftone film. A solid curve A shows an example of the halftone screen characteristics when exposed with a contact screen superimposed on the surface.

When recording a halftone image from a continuous tone original using a color scanner, it is naturally required to record the image with characteristics such as curve A.
In some color scanners, individual halftone dots are exposed and recorded by modulating and controlling the width of the exposure light beam without using a contact screen. −
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In such a case, it is convenient to give the signal information for modulation control of the light beam a characteristic expressed by a straight line, as shown by the chain line B, as this simplifies the structure of the device. It is desirable to convert and use it as shown by dotted line C.

This calculates the resulting density value (y-axis) corresponding to the exposure amount (x-axis) on curve C, and writes the x-axis value as an address and the y-axis value to the storage device as data information for each plot point. This is accomplished by determining an address based on changes in brightness of the original image obtained by photoelectrically scanning the original image with a color scanner, reading data from the storage device, and controlling exposure on the recording side.

However, in actual plate-making work, in the above case, a considerable amount of data information is required to be stored in the storage device, for example, 256 steps in the x-axis direction and 2048 steps in the y-axis direction.

Generally, the following means are applied to write data information into a storage device.

The simplest method is to read the graph shown in Figure 1 and enter it manually using a keyboard, but this is only useful when the amount of data is relatively small or when the storage device is already available. This is appropriate when the amount of work is small, such as when partially modifying data information stored in a computer. However, inputting all of the aforementioned large amounts of data using this method requires a huge amount of effort, and it is difficult to completely prevent errors during graph reading and input operations, making it impractical. Not.

Another method is to create a line graph that appropriately approximates the required curve graph, create an arithmetic program based on the line graph, use a computer to calculate data that approximates the desired data information, and have it automatically input. However, in order to increase the accuracy, the length of each broken line must be set considerably short, it is necessary to create a large number of calculation programs, and the calculation results are only approximate values. It has the disadvantage of requiring equipment such as a minicomputer or microcomputer.

Still another method is to use a digitizing table to select plot points at appropriate pitches along the required data information curve, and measure and input their coordinate values. As mentioned above, when there are a large number of plot points, it takes time and effort to sequentially install and operate the sensors at each position, increasing the possibility of sensor positioning errors, and the disadvantage is that the equipment costs are high. be.

Although each of the well-known means described above is quite troublesome even when it comes to writing only one type of data information, the halftone plate characteristic curve as shown in the first diagram is based on not only one type but also the density condition of the original image. Various types are required depending on the printing paper, ink, etc.

Furthermore, in addition to halftone characteristics, there are many types of data information that should be stored in the storage device attached to the color scanner, including values that change depending on the work content, such as tone gradation and color correction. It is practically impossible to write data information into a storage device by the above-mentioned means for each individual task.

The present invention provides a means for solving the above-mentioned problems in a very rational manner.The main point of the present invention is that by applying the color scanner itself for plate making as a means for picking up data information, there is no need for any special incidental equipment. Another object of the present invention is to input high-density data information into a storage device quickly and accurately.
Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on drawings illustrating the implementation procedure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of implementing the method of the present invention using a cylindrical scanning color scanner.

Pattern 1, which displays desired data information in the form of a curved graph, is wound around the original image drum 2 and rotated, while the pick up head 3 is transferred to the original image drum 2 in the axial direction by the feed screw 4, and the pattern 1 is sequentially transferred line by line. scan.

The pick up head 3 outputs an image signal corresponding to the density distribution of the pattern 1 by receiving the light beam transmitted through the pattern 1 or reflected from its surface. It is well known that the device includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and outputs color-separated image signals of, for example, red (R), green (G), and blue (B).

Further, a pulse generator 5 driven coaxially or synchronously with the original image drum 2 is attached to generate a clock pulse synchronized with the scanning of the pattern 1.

The pattern 1 is of the type shown in the third figure, for example, and is composed of an origin indicating line 6, a reference coordinate axis line 7, and a data curve 8.

The origin indicating line 6 is a line having a length corresponding to the scanning time (t ₁ ) in the main scanning direction (y-axis direction), and its upper edge (arrow 0x) indicates the x-axis origin.

The reference coordinate axis line 7 has a width corresponding to the scanning time t ₂ in the main scanning direction, and a line length equal to at least the maximum value on the x-axis side of the data curve 8 in the sub-scanning direction (x-axis direction). on the right edge (arrow 0y)
indicates the y-axis origin.

Data curve 8 represents the required data information values x-y
A line is displayed based on coordinates, and is displayed with a line width corresponding to scanning time _t3 in the main scanning direction. However, when the curve is displayed as a line of uniform thickness, the width in the main scanning direction varies depending on the location, but this is because the pulse width detection circuit described below distinguishes between t ₁ , t ₂ and t ₃ . It is only necessary that the data curve 8
It is not necessary for t ₃ to take the same value throughout
It may be displayed using normal drawing means.

The pattern 1 displaying the origin indicating line 6, reference coordinate axis line 7, and data curve 8 as described above is transferred to the original drum 2.
When these lines are wound and rotated and photoelectric scanning is performed, the pick up head 3 outputs a pulse signal having a width of t ₁ , t ₂ or t ₃ each time these lines are scanned. These three types of pulse signals are input to three pulse width detection circuits 9, 10 and 11, respectively.

The pulse width detection circuit 9 detects a pulse signal with a width of t ₁ , 10 detects a pulse signal with a width of t ₂ , and 11 detects a pulse signal with a width of t ₃ . Outputs a signal each time.

The output of the pulse width detection circuit 9 is input to the counter 12 as a reset signal, while the output of the pulse width detection circuit 10 is input to the same counter 12 as a count value.

Therefore, while the pick up head 3 scans the area of the origin indicating line 6 and a reset signal is input from the pulse width detection circuit 9 for each revolution of the original image drum 2, the count value of the counter 12 is "0". However, when the scanning point moves out of the area of the origin indication line 6 due to the movement of the pick up head 3 in the sub-scanning direction, from then on, for each rotation of the drum 2,
By the signal input from the pulse width detection circuit 10,
The count value increases by "1".

On the other hand, the output of the pulse width detection circuit 10 is input to the counter 13 as a reset signal and to the gate 14 as an "ON" signal. As a result, the counter 13 is reset to zero, and the gate 14 passes the output signal from the frequency converter 15.

The frequency converter 15 receives the clock pulse from the pulse generator 5 mentioned above, converts it into a pulse of a desired frequency, and outputs the pulse to the counter 13 via the gate 14.
input as the count value. Therefore, each time the pick-up head 3 scans the reference coordinate axis 7, the counter 13 is reset to zero, and subsequently, while the gate 14 is turned "ON", the frequency converter 1
Count pulses from 5.

Next, when the original image drum 2 rotates and the pickup head 3 scans the data curve 8, a signal is output from the pulse width detection circuit 11.

This output is input to the gate 14 as an "OFF" signal, and is also used as a command signal to write the counted values of the two counters 12 and 13 into the storage device as data information.

The delay circuit 16 is configured to output the write command signal a little later than the "OFF" signal to the gate 14 in order to ensure that the count value of the counter 13 reaches the storage device before writing. However, it may be omitted depending on how the interface parts with the storage device are selected.

As detailed above, if the method of the present invention is applied,
When inputting and storing various data information required by a color scanner for plate making into a storage device, the color scanner itself can be used as a digitizer to scan a graph displaying the required characteristic curves, making it extremely easy, quick and accurate. It is possible to input high-density data information.

Moreover, in order to carry out the method of the present invention, it is only necessary to add a few circuit parts to the equipment originally installed in the digital color scanner, so there is an advantage that the equipment cost is extremely low.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned content, and various applications and modifications are possible.

For example, in the above embodiment, the scanned pattern 1
In addition to the data curve 8, an origin indicating line 6 and a base coordinate axis line 7 are provided, but these are omitted and a limit switch is provided that operates when the pick up head 3 passes the origin position. By using the output as a reset signal for the counter 12, the origin is regulated.
It is also possible to provide a means for generating one pulse at a fixed position for each rotation to replace the signal of the reference coordinate axis.

However, in these cases, it is necessary to accurately determine the position and angle when winding pattern 1 around drum 2, so in practice, it is necessary to display the origin indicating line and reference coordinate axis line as in the above embodiment. It is recommended to use a pattern that

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a data curve graph,
FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining an example of the implementation procedure of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a pattern used in FIG. 1... Pattern, 2... Original image drum, 3... Pick up head, 4... Feed screw, 5... Pulse generator, 6... Origin indicating line, 7... Reference coordinate axis line, 8... Data curve, 9, 10, 11... Pulse width detector, 12, 13... Counter, 14...
Gate, 15...frequency converter.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A graph line corresponding to data information, a reference coordinate axis line, and a marker line indicating the origin are each displayed with different line widths in the main scanning direction, and this pattern is photoelectrically scanned. , while counting and outputting the number of main scans that move in the sub-scan direction starting from the time of scanning the origin marker line, a clock pulse generated in synchronization with the main scan for each main scan,
Counting and outputting the period from the time of scanning the reference coordinate axis line to the time of scanning the graph line, inputting the number of main scans as an address value and the clock pulse count value as an input data value to a storage device, etc.;
A method for inputting data information, characterized in that the graph line, the reference coordinate axis line, and the origin marker line are identified based on the difference in output duration when each of them is photoelectrically scanned. 2. The data information input method according to claim 1, characterized in that the pattern is scanned using a drum-type image scanner. 3. The data information input method according to claim 2, wherein the drum-type image scanner is a color scanner for plate making.