JPS6338154B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a document sorting device for a color scanner, and more particularly to a device that scans a document relatively roughly and outputs setting values for setting scanning conditions of the color scanner according to the characteristics of the document.

Conventionally, this type of device has an operation panel and a monitor receiver similar to a color scanner, and the original is projected onto the monitor receiver and the desired gradation and color are displayed on the receiver by operating the knobs on the operation panel. There is something that records the values of the knobs when obtained. By setting the color scanner operation panel based on this value, it is possible to produce a color image similar to the monitor image. However, with such conventional devices, since humans are involved between viewing the monitor image and operating the knobs, there is a possibility that individual differences based on experience may be introduced, so accurate reproducibility cannot necessarily be achieved. Not only that, but there is also the operational complexity of having to memoize the setting values of the knobs. Color scanners also have different knob configurations and operability depending on the model.
For example, the relationship between the color separation density values obtained by scanning a document and the output for exposing the plate-making photosensitive material is different, and such conventional devices cannot be used in common with various types of color scanners.

In addition, we measured the cumulative frequency distribution for each color of the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) three-color separation density values obtained by roughly scanning the original, and calculated the difference between this and the standard value. There is a device that obtains scanning condition setting data for a color scanner. However, since this device judges the scanning conditions only based on the gradation without considering the color of the original, it is not possible to correct subtle color differences. Furthermore, the output data of this device is not in a format that allows the user to immediately set the operating knobs of the color scanner based on the output data.

Therefore, the present invention solves these drawbacks of the conventional technology and outputs setting values for the color scanner so that the color scanner can reproduce color images under optimal scanning conditions that match the characteristics of the document. An object of the present invention is to provide a document classification device for a color scanner that can perform the following operations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a document sorting device for a color scanner that can output scanning condition setting values in a format suitable for the color scanner used.

According to the present invention, such a purpose is achieved by simply calculating not only the gradation but also the color correction value from the color separation density of the original, converting it into a format compatible with the scanning condition setting format of the color scanner used, and outputting it. This is achieved by a document classification device that That is, such an apparatus includes a scanning means for scanning an original to generate a first electrical signal representing the color separation density, a circuit for generating a second electrical signal representing the scanning position, and a circuit for dividing the surface of the original into smaller parts. Coordinates to specify any area among the areas specified, density and color characteristics in the specified area, appropriate density and color standard values for print finish, and data output format that matches the input format of the color scanner. an input device for inputting scanning conditions including specifications; an output device for outputting scanning condition setting data for the color scanner; It has a storage device that stores scanning conditions, and a processing device, and the processing device calculates values related to the density and color of a designated region from a first electrical signal corresponding to the region, and calculates values related to the density and color of the designated region, and calculates values related to the density and color of the designated region, and Calculate the gradation correction value and color correction value by comparing the gradation correction value and the standard value, and set the scanning condition to match any color scanner according to the data output format stored in the storage device. It is converted into data and output to an output device.

Next, an embodiment of a color scanner document sorting device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the document sorting apparatus according to the present invention has a rotating drum 12 on which a plurality of documents 10, such as reversible films, can be placed on its cylindrical surface. The drum 12 is supported on a rotating shaft 16 that is rotationally driven by a drive device 14 such as a motor. Near the main surface of the drum 12, a scanning head 18 is supported on a rotating shaft 20, for example threaded, which is connected to a drive 22, such as a motor. Therefore, when drive device 22 is driven, head 18 moves in the direction indicated by arrow A in the figure in normal operation.

A light source unit (not shown) that moves in parallel with the head 18 is installed inside the drum,
The head 18 has a diameter (for example, 1 mm) that is larger than the diameter of the irradiated light beam in the color scanner.
The optical system (not shown) receives the white light beam 19 transmitted through the document 10. The light receiving optical system of the head 18 is optically connected to a color separation optical system and a photoelectric conversion circuit 26, as schematically shown by an arrow 24 in the figure, and this circuit 26 converts the received light into red (R). , green (G), and blue (B), and outputs electrical signals 28R, 28G, and 28B representing the respective intensities. These outputs 28R, 28G and 28B
are logarithmic amplifiers 30R, 30G and 30, respectively.
Connected to B. The output of each amplifier 30R, 30G and 30B is an analog/digital (A/
D) connected to processing unit 36 via transducers 34R, 34G and 34B, respectively.

The processing unit 36 may be, for example, the central processing unit of a commercially available microcomputer, to which is connected a memory 38 for storing programs and data. The processing unit 36 also includes an input device 40, such as a keyboard, for inputting scanning conditions.
and an output device 42, such as a cathode ray (CRT) display or typewriter.

Drives 14 and 22 for driving drum 12 and head 18, respectively, are connected to processing unit 36 via drive circuit 44, and drum encoder 46 and head encoder 48, which are mechanically connected to drives 14 and 22, respectively, are It is connected to the processing device 36 via a multiplier circuit 50.
Drive circuit 44 drives drive devices 14 and 22 in accordance with commands from processing device 36 to perform main scanning and sub-scanning of document 10, respectively. The two encoders 46 and 48 provide signals corresponding to the rotational positions of the corresponding rotational shafts 16 and 20 to the multiplication circuit 50, and input the scanning position or coordinates of the head 18 on the document 10 to the processing device 36. .

By the way, the head 18 moves in response to a command signal from the processing device 36 to sub-scan the document 10.
By rotating the drum 12 and performing main scanning,
As the entire surface of the document 10 is scanned by the beam 19 having a relatively large diameter, electric signals 28R, 2 representing the red, green, and blue densities obtained by color-separating the reflected components of the beam 19 on the surface of the document 10 are generated.
8G and 28B are A/D converters 34R, 34G
and 34B, and are stored in the memory 38 by the processing device 36 together with the luminance signal obtained by processing these signals. A signal obtained by multiplying the signals generated by the drum encoder 46 and head encoder 48 by a multiplier circuit 50 is also sequentially inputted to the processing device 36. This signal indicates the coordinates of the scanning beam 19 on the document 10, and a digital value indicating the above-mentioned density is stored at a storage location (address) in the memory 38 corresponding to this coordinate. Therefore, when the head 18 completes its scan, the memory 38 will store density values for each color separation for all scan points on the document 10.

The memory 38 also stores scanning conditions entered via an input device 40, such as a keyboard. These scanning conditions include, for example:

(1) Aperture size Specify the diameter of the aperture of the receiving optical system.

(2) Sampling pitch Specifies the interval at which the density of each color should be sampled in sub-scanning. A/D converter 34R, 3
This is the cycle at which the processing device 36 reads density values from 4G and 34B.

(3) Coordinates of highlight point Specify the coordinates of the position to be reproduced on the plate as the point with the highest brightness in the original 10.

(4) Density range Specifies the relationship between the density of each color measured from the original 10 and the gradation to be reproduced on the plate-making sensitive material.

(5) Standard value Set standard density and color for print finish.

(6) Area specification Specify the coordinates of an arbitrary area among the areas obtained by subdividing the entire surface of the original 10 into small sections.

(7) Feature specification Specify features regarding density and color in the area specified in item (6) above. For example, if a flesh-colored part is specified in paragraph (6), that part is specified as skin.

(8) Output format Specify the data output format suitable for the scanning condition setting data format of the color scanner being used.
For example, it is specified to output data in an output format suitable for the numerical values or positions of buttons or knobs in the color scanner model being used.

The processing device 36 reads out the density values obtained by scanning the original 10 and stored in the memory 38, and performs the following arithmetic processing (see FIG. 2).

Values related to density and color in the area specified by the area specification described above are calculated from the accumulated density values corresponding to the area (FIG. 2, 100). Next, this calculated value is compared with the aforementioned standard value to calculate a gradation correction value and a color correction value as appropriate scanning conditions (step 102). At this time, if the aforementioned highlight points and density ranges are specified, the gradation correction values and color correction values are corrected based on these.

By the way, the memory 38 contains the input data No.
A conversion table corresponding to the output format in section (8) is prepared. This table is for converting the calculated gradation correction values and color correction values into values or positions of buttons or knobs appropriate for the color scanner model used. The information is stored in the memory 38 in advance in correspondence with the model. This is because the relationship between gradation and color correction values and the numerical values or positions of buttons or knobs differs depending on the model of color scanner used. Therefore, the processing device 36 indexes the conversion table corresponding to the output format specified in the above item (8), and converts the calculated gradation correction value and color correction value into the setting value of the button or knob of the color scanner. (FIG. 2 104), and outputs this to an output device 42 such as a CRT (FIG. 2 106).

By configuring the document sorting device for a color scanner according to the present invention in this manner, it is possible to provide a color scanner using data for setting scanning conditions that can obtain more appropriate reproducibility as a finished color print. In other words, since color correction values can be obtained in addition to conventional gradation correction values, the color reproducibility of the final printed matter is improved. Furthermore, since the operation setting values of the color scanner can be output in an output format suitable for the model of the color scanner used, the operation of the color scanner becomes easier.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a document sorting apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flow diagram for explaining the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. Explanation of symbols of main parts, 12...Rotating drum,
18...head, 26...color separation optical system and photoelectric conversion circuit, 36...processing device, 38...memory, 40...input device, 42...output device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Scanning means for scanning a document and generating a first electric signal representing color separation density; a circuit for generating a second electric signal representing a scanning position; and subdividing the surface of the document. Coordinates specifying any area among the specified areas, characteristics regarding density and color in the specified area, standard values of density and color appropriate for print finish, and data output format that matches the input format of the color scanner. an input device for inputting scanning conditions including specifications; an output device for outputting scanning condition setting data for the color scanner; and storing the first electrical signal in association with a second electrical signal, and a storage device for storing data; and a processing device, the processing device calculating values related to the density and color of the specified area from the first electrical signal corresponding to the area, and combining the calculated values and the processing device. A gradation correction value and a color correction value are calculated by comparing with standard values, and the gradation correction value and color correction value are scanned to be compatible with any color scanner according to the data output format stored in the storage device. A document classification device for a color scanner, characterized in that it converts into condition setting data and outputs it to the output device. 2. In the device according to claim 1,
The scanning condition further includes coordinates specifying the position of a highlight point, and the processing device calculates a gradation correction value and a color correction value based on the specified highlight point. Classification device. 3. In the device according to claim 1,
The document classification device for a color scanner, wherein the scanning conditions further include designation of a density range, and the processing device calculates a gradation correction value and a color correction value based on the designated density range.