JPS6392168A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To select the quality of an image by designating a resolution and selecting the resolution according to the designated result. CONSTITUTION:The color attribute of R, G, B is added to an image data transferred from a host 1. In a controller 3 receiving the image data from the host 1, a character code is developed to a bit map, the color of the data of R, G, B is converted into the respective data of Y, M, C and written in a page memory 4. An arithmetic processor 5 reads the data written in the memory 4, applies various filtering processings such as the emphasis of an edge, a smoothing and writes in the memory 4. Then, a selection signal for selecting the filter used for the various types of filtering processings of the processor 5 is outputted. Thereby, the resolution can be selected according to the important element of the image and the quality of the image can be selected.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] ■Tachi-tachi The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art In general, there are various image forming apparatuses such as laser printers that form images using digital signals (raster data).

In such an image forming apparatus, since the resolution is fixed, when an image is formed using data in which a single character and an image are mixed.

There are disadvantages in that certain symptoms occur, such as blurred text or images that do not appear in the middle tones.

Purpose This invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to enable selection of one image quality.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is provided with a designation means for designating a resolution, and a means for selecting a resolution according to the designation result of the designation means.

Hereinafter, a detailed explanation will be given based on one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a control section of a color image forming apparatus as an image forming apparatus embodying the present invention.

The host 1 is, for example, a personal computer, a word processor, a data processor, an image editing processing system, a workstation, etc., and transfers the character code or bit data (hereinafter referred to as "image data") of a created image to the image forming apparatus 2. Note that the image data read by the image reading device is transferred to the image forming device 2.
It can also be transferred to.

The image data transferred from this host 1 is red (R).
), green (G), and blue (B) color attributes are added. Note that instead of red (R), green (G), and blue (B), the color attributes may be yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C).

The controller 3 receives the image data sent from the host 1, develops the character code into a bit map, and converts the character code into a red (R).

Green (G) and blue (B) data are subjected to color correction processing and converted into yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) data, and then yellow (Y).

Each magenta (M) and cyan (C) data is written to the page memory 4 where the data is located.

As shown in FIG.
Y), magenta (M), cyan (C).

Black (K,) or yellow (Y), magenta (M)
, cyan (C), n memories each having a capacity for one page are provided according to the number of gradations (n gradations of 2).

The arithmetic processor 5 also serves as a resolution selection means, reads the data written in the page memory 4, and performs various filtering processes such as edge emphasis and smoothing.

Perform various processing such as enlargement/reduction/h processing, double rotation processing, UCR (undercolor removal) processing, and dither processing (it is not necessary to perform all of these processing), and then page the processed data again.・Write to memory 4.

The selection switch S is a specifying means for specifying the resolution,
A selection signal for selecting a filter to be used in various filtering processes of the arithmetic processor 5 is output. Note that this selection signal is 2-bit data: ro, OJ, ro, N,
There are four types of signals: rl, 0'' and ``1°1''.

The engine controller 7 reads data from the page memory 4 and creates signals at timings that match the printer engine 8. The printer engine 8 is, for example, an electrophotographic device or a thermal printer.

This is a printer engine such as an inkjet printer.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

First, the flow of processing of the control section of this image forming apparatus will be explained with reference to FIG.

Enlarge/reduce/rotate each red (R), green (G), and blue (B) data input from the host side to the input interface (I/F) as necessary (this processing includes color correction processing, etc.) Red (R) after this treatment.

Color correction processing is performed on green (G) and blue (B) data to produce yellow (Y) and magenta (M).

Convert to cyan (C) data.

After that, yellow (Y) obtained by this color correction,
U based on magenta (M) and cyan (C) data
Yellow (Y) after CR treatment.

It is converted into magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) data, and this yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) data is specified by the filter selection signal. After performing various filter processing such as edge enhancement and smoothing using a filter, the image is binarized and sent to the printer engine via an engine interface (I/F).

Next, filter selection processing will be explained with reference to FIG.

In this filter selection process, a filter selection signal, which is 2-bit data, is first received from the selection switch 6, and a filter is selected in accordance with this selection signal.

In other words, if the filter selection signal is ro, OJ, filter ■ is selected, if the filter selection signal is "0°1", filter ■ is selected, and if the filter selection signal is rl, 'O'.
If so, select filter ■ and the filter selection signal is rl
, IJ, select filter ■. Here, filter ■ is, filter ■ is, filter ■ is.

Filter■ is.

shall be.

Therefore, if you want to focus on one character, use a filter! (
If the image is centered (halftone), select Filter ■ (more blur) or Filter ■ (less blur). All you have to do is operate switch 6.

In this way, this image forming apparatus is equipped with a means for specifying the resolution and a means for selecting the resolution according to the result of this specification, so that it can be used to You will be able to select the resolution and image quality.

In the above embodiment, when selecting the resolution, a filter is selected, that is, whether edge emphasis is smoothed (corresponding to halftones), and its stage (in the embodiment there are 2 stages, but it can be set to n stages) is selected. Although the example has been described, it is also possible to change the dither matrix used in dither processing and the color correction coefficient used in color correction processing.

Effects As explained above, according to the present invention, image quality can be selected.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control section of an image forming apparatus embodying the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the page memory. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the flow of the image forming process. FIG. 4 is a flow diagram similarly showing the filter selection process. 1...Host 2...Image forming device 3...
・Controller 4...Page memory 5...Arithmetic processor S...Selection switch 7...Engine controller 8...Printer engine Diagram 1 IIZ

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus characterized by comprising: a specifying means for specifying a resolution; and a resolution selecting means for selecting a resolution according to the specification result of the specifying means. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the resolution selection means selects either edge enhancement or smoothing and the stage thereof.