JPS63288563A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To synthesize two images at an arbitrary time point by providing first and second memory means to store an image signal with a different timing, combining these and generating an image signal for one screen. CONSTITUTION:Two types of originals O1 and O2 are mounted successively onto an original mounting stand 1 and successively read by a reading means 3. The reading signal of the original O1 is stored into a memory means 7 and the reading signal of the original O2 is stored into a memory means 8. By dislocating and reading the main scanning starting time and the sub-scanning time of the original O1 and the original O2, the part having both different images is made coincident. The reading starting time from respective memory means 7 and 8 is controlled by a memory reading control means 9. The signal read from respective memory means 7 and 8 is sent to an image signal generating means 11 and a prescribed signal is used as an image signal by the action of a selecting control means 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image forming method and apparatus for synthesizing different original images to obtain an overlay image.
The present invention relates to an image forming method and apparatus for converting different original images into time-series electric signals, synthesizing these signals, and obtaining a synthesized image based on this synthesized signal.

Conventionally, as a typical method for obtaining an overlay image, 1
There is a method of copying by cutting out a part of one manuscript paper to create a window and exposing another manuscript to this area. However, this method has undesirable aspects such as complicated work and damage to the original. Another example is one in which a single document is projected by an optical system, and a character pattern electrically generated by a character generator is drawn by scanning a laser beam or the like in superimposition on the image. According to this method, there is no need to cut out a part of the manuscript paper, and there is no risk of cutting the manuscript, but there is a problem that it is extremely difficult to block the optical image of a desired part of the manuscript. Ta. Furthermore, there are significant restrictions on the use of character patterns produced by character generators.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming method and apparatus that make it possible to freely obtain a composite image with simple operations.

The image forming method of the present invention is a method of synthesizing different original images to form an image, and includes the steps of storing a plurality of original images to be synthesized as time-series signals in respective predetermined memories, and storing the signals in each memory. The present invention is characterized by comprising the steps of: obtaining an image signal by combining desired memory signals that are read while maintaining a predetermined time relationship with each other; and forming an image in accordance with the image signals.

Further, the image forming apparatus of the present invention controls a photoelectric conversion means, a plurality of memories that can be read simultaneously, and an input image signal of the photoelectric conversion means to be sent to a predetermined memory means while scanning the original image once. an input image signal control means; a start time control means for controlling the start time of reading from each memory means; a combining means for combining read signals from each memory means; It is characterized by comprising an optical signal forming means for converting into a signal, and a means for forming a composite image based on the optical signal of the optical signal forming means.

Hereinafter, details of the present invention will be explained using specific examples with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a specific example device based on the present invention, in which 1 is a document mounting table, 2 is an imaging optical system, and 3 is a solid-state imaging device (CCD) arranged at the imaging position of the optical system. ) or a reading means such as a CRT flying spot. The original optical image formed on the reading means 3 is subjected to main scanning in the direction of arrow X and read in time series. On the other hand, the original table l moves at a predetermined speed in the direction of arrow Y, allowing sub-scanning of the original optical image.

4 is a step drive pulse generation means, 5 is a clock pulse generation means, and 6 is an A/D conversion means. The reading means 3 starts main scanning by the driving pulse of the step driving pulse generating means 4, and performs reading by photoelectric conversion according to the pulse period of the clock pulse generating means 5. Although this read signal is an analog signal, it is converted into a digital signal by the A/D conversion means 6.

Reference numerals 7 and 8 designate memory means for storing the output signal of the A/D conversion means 6. In the illustrated example, a switching means SW is provided so that one memory means can be used properly depending on the original.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a memory reading control means, which controls reading of each memory means at timings to be described in detail later.

10 is a selection control means for selecting each read memory signal, and 11 is a means for synthesizing the selected memory signals to generate an image signal.

In the illustrated example, an image is recorded in accordance with this image signal on a photoreceptor 12 having a photoconductive layer. Charging means, developing means, transfer means, cleaning means, etc. are provided along the photosensitive drum 12, but these are omitted from the drawing. Reference numeral 13 denotes a laser beam generating means for applying optical information to the surface of the photosensitive drum, which is modulated in accordance with the image signal generated by the image signal generating means.

A polygon mirror 14 rotates in the direction of the arrow and scans the beam of the laser beam generating means parallel to the photosensitive drum axis. Reference numeral 15 denotes an f-theta lens that keeps the scanning speed of the beam on the drum surface constant.

A beam detector 16 detects that the laser beam is at the scanning start position and controls image signal readout. A transfer material 17 serves to transfer an image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum.

The recording operation in the above configuration apparatus will be further explained with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

FIG. 2 shows the original document used for synthetic reproduction. The case where part B of 02 is to be synthesized with part A of 01 out of two originals 01 and 0□ will be described below.

These original 0. ．． 02 are sequentially placed on the document table 1 and read by the reading means 3. This read operation is
Main scan line L1 of original O1, then sequentially scan L2
．． Read L3 and each line. Regarding original 02, each line is sequentially read from line R1 in the same manner. The read signal of the original 01 is stored in the memory means 7, while the read signal of the original 02 is stored in the memory means 8.

In this device, the above-mentioned synthesis is performed using the read signals stored in each of these memory means, and FIG. 3 schematically explains the method of synthesis. .

In the figure, the X-axis is the time axis in the main scanning direction, and the Y-axis is the time axis in the sub-scanning direction.

Original 01 (solid line) and Original 02 (dotted chain line)
By shifting the main scanning start time and sub-scanning start time of , part A of original 01 and part B of original 0□ are made to match as shown in the figure (part C).

Then, at the position of the original 01, the 8 parts of the original are written in the C part, resulting in a composite image. That is,
The memory signal of the original 01 is read out from the memory means 7, and after a time T, +t, which is the sum of the delay time t1 in the main scanning direction and the delay time T1 in the sub-scanning direction, the memory signal of the original 02 is read out from the memory means 8. It starts reading out one signal. The read start time from each memory means is controlled by the memory read control means 9. The signals read from each memory means are sent to the image signal generating means 11, where a predetermined signal is used as an image signal by the action of the selection control means 10. Figure 4 shows the reading of memory signals.
FIG. 3 is a time chart explanatory diagram illustrating pulses in each step up to the generation of an image signal, and the time axes of each step are shown in parallel with each other in the horizontal direction.

The pulse at the top of the figure is a clock pulse (cp) which is the basis of the operation of the device, and is generated by the clock pulse generating means 5 at a predetermined period.

The second stage pulse is a step pulse (LSP) corresponding to the start of reading each line of the original 0 memory signal (Ml) stored in the memory means 7, and is associated with the laser beam detector to drive the step. The pulse generated by the pulse generating means 4 is utilized. This pulse period is tx.

The third stage pulse is a step pulse (R5P) corresponding to the start of each line of the original 02 memory signal (M2) stored in the memory means 8, and is generated by the step drive pulse generating means 4. The use of pulses is similar to that of LSP. However, as mentioned above, reading this memory signal (M2) is based on the original 0.
．． T1+t for reading the memory signal (Ml) of
It will start one hour late.

Also, this pulse period tx' is the same as the step pulse L
It has the same period as SP.

The fourth and fifth stage pulses are memory signals read out from each memory means 7. The upper part is the memory signal (Ml) of the original OI stored in the memory means 7, and the lower part is the memory signal (Ml) of the original OI stored in the memory means 8. This is the original 02 memory signal (M2).

The sixth stage pulse is a selection control pulse (sep) for each of the read memory signals M1. Set the use of M2 as an image signal. In the figure, after T2+t2 time and T2+t2+tx time (t3 t2) respectively.
generates a pulse with a time width of , and during this time the memory signal M2
is used as an image signal, and when this pulse is absent, the memory signal M1 is used as an image signal.

That is, after 12 hours have elapsed, the readout signal (Ml) of the original 01 starts reading out the Lm line shown in FIG.
The readout signal is used. On the other hand, the original 02 read signal (M2) is at this time R3 in FIG. 2(b).
It starts reading out the line. As shown in FIG.
Reading of the memory signal M1 of the original 02 starts from the A part, and reading of the memory signal M2 of the original 02 starts reading the B part. At this time, the settings are switched by the selection control pulse (SDP),
The memory signal M1 that had been used as the image signal is switched to the memory signal M2. Therefore, part B of the original 02 is written in part C of the composite image. After a further 13-12 hours have elapsed, the memory signal M2 finishes reading lines within the B portion and begins reading lines outside the B portion.

On the other hand, the memory signal M also finishes reading lines within the A portion and begins reading lines outside the A portion.

At this time, the selection control pulse (sep) also disappears, so the image signal returns from the memory signal M2 to the memory signal M1 and is used. After further tx time elapses, the original O
The read signal (Ml) of 3 is L w + 1 line A
The read signal (M2) of the original 02 is used to read out the B portion of the R4 line. At this time, the selection control pulse (sep)
The image signal is switched again from the memory signal M1 to the memory signal M2, and the C of the Lw+1 line of the composite image is switched again.
Write the line of the original 02B part. Then, after a further lapse of time (t3 t2), the above pulse (sep
) disappears, and the remaining portion of the composite image is completed by the memory signal M1 of the original 01. The generation time of each of these pulses is easily controlled by setting a preset timer in each control means.

In this manner, a composite image signal is generated from the image signal generating means 11, and the laser beam is modulated by this signal to form an image.

In the above specific example, a composite image is formed by switching between two types of original signals, but it is of course possible to form a composite image by partially using these original signals at the same time. That is, the A part and B part of the original 01+0□ in the above example are both written in the C part of the composite image. Moreover, it goes without saying that the number of originals is not limited to two, and three or more types may be used. At this time, depending on the number of originals of three or more types to be switched and used, in parallel and simultaneously,
It is necessary to provide a memory means from which each original memory signal can be read.

In the device based on the present invention, memory signals can be simultaneously read out from a plurality of memory means in this way. Compared to the case where a composite image is formed by address access within the memory and conversion and recombination between memories, the composite image formation process is extremely fast.

Furthermore, in the above example, the overlay area to be combined is described as a rectangle, but this is because this form is the most basic and easy to control.

Of course, it is possible to arbitrarily combine arbitrary shape regions. Then, it is sufficient to increase the number of preset timers for setting each switching selection according to the shape to be synthesized.

By the way, a one-hour timer (i.e.,
TI+ T2n T0n il+t2+ in the above example
The setting time of each preset timer such as t3) can be set according to the vertical and horizontal position measurements on each original to be synthesized. That is, the setting means is configured to convert the original position measurement amount into the set time n of the preset timer. In the case of such a setting means, the combination position designation immediately becomes the preset timer one time designation, which is extremely practical.

The preset timer related to the delay time T I + T2 in the sub-scanning direction may be a preset counter driven by LSP or R5P (on the other hand, the preset timer related to the delay time T I + t2 in the main scanning direction is , a preset counter driven by the clock CL may be used.

Of course, other simple timer means may also be used.

Furthermore, if an address is given to each main scan within a specific memory means, and the next main scan line can be accessed randomly from the memory during the blank time between main scans, for example, each original memory It is also possible to reproduce only the memory of the necessary main scanning lines, while controlling the reproduction time, without reproducing unnecessary main scanning lines.

In the above description, a case has been described in which optical information obtained by laser beam modulation of image formation is reproduced on an electrophotographic photoreceptor, but it goes without saying that various image forming methods can be used.

As described above in detail using specific examples, the present invention is excellent in that a desired overlay image can be easily obtained from various originals. Furthermore, since the image formation is performed at extremely high speed, it is extremely effective in practice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a specific example device based on the present invention. FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are explanatory diagrams of the original manuscript used for synthetic reproduction. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram explaining the synthesis method. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a time chart of each pulse. In the figure, l; Original stage 2; Imaging optical system 3; Reading means 4; Slap drive pulse generation means 5; Clock pulse generation means 6; A/D conversion means 7.8; Memory means

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An imaging means for converting a target image into an image signal, a first storage means for storing one screen worth of image signals converted by the imaging means at a first timing, and what is the first timing? a second storage means for storing images converted at different second timings for a required screen; and combining the image signals stored in the first storage means and the second storage means to generate an image signal for one screen. An image processing device comprising: means for creating an image.