JP2000270202A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an image output result as expected by a user by recording vector data as a picture with priority in the case of printing out image data consisting of the vector data and image data that are intermingled with each other. SOLUTION: Vector data are expanded in a CMYK plane memory 12p in a bit map form. In the case of applying bit map expansion to image data next, when water mark processing is applied to the data, the image data are expanded in the plane memory 12p as they are in a bit map form. In the case of replacement processing when image data are at a level '1' and all vector data in the 4-color lane memory are all at '0', '1' is set to areas of the mask plane 12p. The image data are expanded again in the plane memory 12p while applying it OR arithmetic processing to obtained data in a mask plane memory 12m and bit map data corresponding to a target coordinate of a vector expanded on the plane memory 12p.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer and a plotter, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus that develops a bit map of input image data for each band and outputs an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in image processing of input binary image data such as vector data represented by a line drawing and image data represented by a picture, the image data is usually developed into a bit map on a plane memory. Irrespective of image data or vector data, an intermediate code called a display list (DL) is once generated based on the image data.
After the DL generation is completed for all of the input binary image data, bitmap development is sequentially performed from the first band. After the bitmap development for one band developed on the plane memory is completed, image recording is performed by a recording head having a recording width corresponding to the band width. For example, in an inkjet type image forming apparatus, an image recording is performed by scanning a recording head having a plurality of ejection ports arranged in a direction different from the arrangement direction of the ejection ports on a recording medium.

[0003]

Incidentally, depending on the image data, there are cases where the images overlap each other. At that time, there are a watermarking process and a replacement process as expression forms of overlapping portions. The watermark process is, as shown in FIG.
This is a process of validating both images of the overlapping portion and recording the images. On the other hand, the replacement processing means that when data to be bit-mapped later overlaps data to be bit-mapped first, as shown in FIG. This is the process of replacing with data. In other words, in the overlapping portion of the image, the data to be bit-mapped first is hidden behind the subsequent data.

At present, there is a command for setting whether to select a watermark process or a replacement process. For example, a command called a TR command is a command for setting whether to select a watermarking process or a replacement process for an overlapping portion when vector data overlaps. The command ESC * # n | N is a command for setting whether to select a watermarking process or a replacement process for an overlapping portion when image data overlap.

However, the case where the vector data and the image data overlap is not considered, and the image result expected by the user may not be obtained in some cases.

For example, the replacement process has the following problems. In other words, the image shown in FIG. 12A has an outer frame composed of vector data and the solid fill has image data, and the image shown in FIG. 12B has an elliptical image with character vector data. Is composed of image data. When vector data is placed on image data in this way, image data composed of image data and vector data in that order must be generated. Conversely, if the vector data and the image data are constructed in this order, the vector data portion is hidden as shown in FIG. 12C and FIG. 12D, respectively, and the expected result cannot be obtained. become.

According to the present invention, it is possible to select image processing of a portion where raster data and vector data overlap with input image data composed of raster data and vector data as described above, and further to select replacement processing. It is another object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that performs image recording without causing loss of vector data.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: receiving means for externally receiving input image data in which vector data and image data are mixed; a plurality of plane memories corresponding to a plurality of colors; Developing means for analyzing the received input image data to develop a bitmap on the plurality of plane memories, and a recording head for performing image recording based on the bitmap developed data, the developing means comprising: If the replacement processing for replacing the data expanded later on the plane memory with the data expanded earlier is selected, regardless of which of the vector data and the image data comes first, the vector data is more than the image data. It is characterized in that an expansion process is performed so as to obtain the same expansion result as the expansion performed later.

According to the present invention, the setting of the superposition processing of the vector data and the image data can be performed by the user by the setting from the external information, and the image recording expected by the user can be obtained.

[0010] In the apparatus, the expansion means may select, for example, a replacement process for a portion where the input image data is vector data and mixed image data in the order of image data and where the image data and the vector data overlap each other. Means for comparing the mask plane memory used in such a case with the data to be developed and the data of a plurality of plane memories corresponding to the development coordinate position in bit units at the time of bitmap development of the image data;
Means for setting "1" to a corresponding development coordinate position on the mask plane memory when all vector data previously developed on the plurality of plane memories are "0" at the development coordinate position of "1"; Means for calculating the bit OR of the determined bitmap data on the mask plane and the bitmap data of the vector already developed on each memory plane corresponding to the development coordinate position, and re-developing the bit map data on each plane memory; Thereby, it is possible to avoid image loss or the like and obtain an image record expected by the user.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a CPU for controlling the operation of the entire apparatus, 12 denotes a plane memory 12p for four colors for temporarily storing a work area of the CPU 11 and bit-mapped data, and a mask memory (mask plane) 12m.
This is a RAM used as a RAM. A ROM 13 stores programs and data for driving the image forming apparatus, and is used by the CPU 11.
Reference numeral 14 denotes an interface unit for connecting to an external computer terminal or the like, through which so-called plotter description language data such as vector data and image data is transferred. Reference numeral 15 denotes an LCD display device for performing display for a machine interface, and 16 denotes a key operation unit for selecting various settings of the image forming apparatus. Reference numeral 17 denotes an engine interface that transfers bitmap data to a printer engine described later, 18 denotes a printer engine that controls a printing operation and the like in accordance with print data received from the engine interface 17, and 19 denotes a CPU 11
And a system bus connecting the other components.

FIG. 2 is a processing flow from reception of input binary image data to printing.

First, input binary image data is received from an external computer terminal or the like (S21), and a DL is generated while analyzing the received data according to a format of a plotter description language (S22). This data analysis is generally called an interpreter. The data analysis is performed until the analysis of the print start data is completed (S23).
When the print start command is received, the DL generated so far
To convert raster to raster (Vector Raster Conver
t) The processing is performed for each band (S24), and print data suitable for recording is developed on the four-color plane memory 12p of the RAM 12 in FIG. 1 and referred to in the print operation (S25).
A printing operation is performed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the VRC processing of input binary image data constituted in the order of vector data and image data.

First, the DL of the vector data of the Nth band
Is developed on the four-color plane memory 12p (S3
1). Here, when image data exists in the Nth band (S32, Yes), it is determined whether or not the watermark processing setting for an overlapping portion of the vector data and the image data by the external setting of the operation unit 16 or the like is ON (S3).
3).

When the setting of the watermark processing is OFF (S3
3, No), 4 corresponding to the bitmap data of the image data and its developed coordinate position for performing the replacement process.
Each data (vector data) on the color plane memory 12p is compared in bit units. At this time, if there is image data “1” for arbitrary coordinates and all four colors on the four-color plane memory 12p are “0”,
"1" is set to the coordinates on the mask plane 12m (S34). Mask plane 12m obtained by this processing
When the above data is stored as bitmap data in the four-color plane memory 12p, the bitmap data of the vector data that has already been developed is subjected to a bit-OR operation and redeployed (S35).

If the setting of the watermark processing is ON (S3
3, Yes), omitting step S34 and step S3
Go to 5.

When the development processing of all DL data in the N-th band is completed, the bitmap data developed in the plane memory 12p is sequentially transferred to the printer engine 18 (S36).

This process is repeated until the last band, and an image is recorded (S37).

Next, how the bit map is developed on the plane memory 12p will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, an example is described in which the input image data is mixed data configured in the order of vector data and image data.

FIG. 4 shows an expected image output result. The image in this example is the data of four objects:
The vector data includes first vector data representing a cyan rectangle, second vector data representing a yellow square, third vector data representing a black character, and image data composed of a blue elliptical area.

First, a DL is generated for each of the three sets of vector data, and is subjected to bitmap development. FIG. 5 (a)
(B), (c) and (d) show the plane memory 12
p represents the result of bitmap expansion processing of each vector on each plane of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow in p.

In the case where the replacement processing is selected for a portion where the vector data and the image data overlap, the mask plane 12 is stored in the RAM 12 as described above.
Prepare m. The mask plane 12m has the same size as the plane memory 12p of each color.

Next, a bit map expansion process of the image data is performed. FIGS. 6A to 6D are development prediction diagrams for each color plane with respect to the image data of the filled blue ellipse in FIG. Since blue is obtained by combining cyan and magenta, elliptical image data exists only in the cyan and magenta planes as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C. Although not particularly shown in FIG. 1, the area for temporarily storing the image development result is stored in the RA when necessary.
Secured in M12.

In bitmap development of image data, attention is paid to data in a rectangular area including an image one byte at a time as shown in FIG. 7A, and vector data is already developed as shown in FIG. 7B. The data is compared in bit units with the respective data on the four-color plane memory 12p. If the image is at the coordinate position of “1” and the vector is “0”, “1” is stored at the corresponding position on the mask plane 12m. Is set. (At this stage, since only the vector data is expanded in the memory plane 12p, the memory plane is also referred to as a vector plane.) That is, FIG. 7A and FIG. 7 (a) is "1" and the bit data of FIG.
When the bit data of (b) is "0", "1" is set at the same position on the mask plane 12m.

This will be described more specifically. In FIG. 7A, for a rectangular area including the entire image data, attention is paid to all data in the rectangular area in units of 8 dots (1 byte) from the upper left. In FIG. 7A, the 1-byte data of the first target coordinate is R0 = (000000000).
2 (where "() 2" means that the number in parentheses is a binary number). On the other hand, the data of the coordinates of interest on the vector plane for four colors in FIG.
(00000000) 2. Therefore, the data set on the mask plane 12m is also M0 = (0000).
0000) 2.

Then, attention is paid to the next rectangular area. The image data of this rectangular area is R1 = (11111110)
2, and the data of the coordinate of interest on the vector plane for four colors is V1 = (01000000) 2. Therefore, the data set on the mask plane 12m is M1
= (10111110) 2.

As a result of such processing, the mask plane 1
A development view as shown in FIG.

Next, the bit map data on the mask plane 12m and the bit map data of the vector already developed on each plane memory 12p are subjected to a bit OR operation. FIG. 8A shows the bitmap data on the mask plane 12m obtained earlier, and FIG. 8B shows the bitmap data of the already developed cyan vector. Then, a pattern as shown in FIG. This is the bitmap data to be finally developed on the cyan plane memory 12p.

This process is performed on the data within the rectangle of the image data for four colors. 9 (a), 9 (b), 9
(C) and FIG. 9 (d) show black, cyan, magenta,
This is a plane memory 12p that represents the final bitmap development result of yellow. In this example, since there is no pattern of two colors of black and yellow in the image data, the black and yellow plane memories are not changed by the bitmap expansion processing of the image data.

In the case of data constituted in the order of image data and vector data, bitmap development may be performed in that order without using the mask plane 12m as shown in the flowchart of FIG. FIG.
2, the same steps as those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals. As can be seen from FIG. 10, in this case, the step of determining whether or not the image data has a DL (S32) is unnecessary, and the step of determining whether or not watermark processing is set (S3).
If No in 3), the image data is subjected to VRC processing and developed on each plane memory (S101). If Yes, the vector data is VRC-processed and developed on each plane memory while performing a bitwise OR operation with the bitmap data of the image data (S102).

The subsequent steps S36 and S37 are the same as those in FIG. 3, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, various modifications and changes are possible. For example,
The specific VRC processing procedure described with reference to FIG. 3 is merely an example. Regardless of which of the vector data and the image data, the same expansion result as if the vector data was expanded after the image data can be obtained. Other processing procedures may be used.

[0035]

According to the present invention, according to the present invention, for the mixed data of vector data and image data in the processing in the image forming apparatus, for example, using a mask plane memory, the dot overlapping at the time of bitmap development of the image data is used. Can always be set to "0", so that the data configuration can be output with vector data priority regardless of the order of the vector data → image or image data → vector. Can be generated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow from data reception to printing of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow of a VRC process according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an expected image output result in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a bitmap development diagram of vector data of four colors according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a bitmap development diagram of image data of four colors according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a bitmap development process on a mask plane according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining bitmap development processing on a cyan plane according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a bitmap development diagram on planes of four colors according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between V and V for data configured in the order of image data and vector data in the embodiment of the present invention.
It is a flowchart which shows the processing flow of RC processing.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the concept of a watermarking process and a replacing process in a conventional technique.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a problem in the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 CPU, 12 RAM, 13 ROM, 14 interface, 15 LCD device, 16 key operation unit,
17 engine interface, 18 printer engine, 19 system bus

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Claims (2)

[Claims] A receiving means for receiving externally input image data in which vector data and image data are mixed; a plurality of plane memories corresponding to a plurality of colors; Developing means for developing a bitmap on the plane memory of the above, and a recording head for performing image recording based on the data developed on the bitmap, wherein the developing means develops the data later developed on the plane memory. Is replaced with the previously expanded data, the expansion is performed to obtain the same expansion result as if the vector data were expanded later than the image data, regardless of whether the vector data or the image data was first. An image forming apparatus that performs a process. 2. The expansion means is used when the input image data is mixed data composed of vector data and image data in order, and a replacement process is selected for a portion where the image data and the vector data overlap. Means for comparing, in bit units, data to be developed and data in a plurality of plane memories corresponding to the development coordinate position when developing bitmaps of image data, and development coordinates in which the image data is "1" In position,
Means for setting "1" to a corresponding development coordinate position on the mask plane memory when all vector data previously developed on the plurality of plane memories are "0"; Means for calculating a bit OR of data and bitmap data of a vector already developed on each memory plane corresponding to the development coordinate position and re-developing the data on each plane memory. Item 2. The image forming apparatus according to Item 1.