JPH01184143A - Image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily execute the synthesis of a figure or character with an input color image, by making it possible to store data different from color image data by at least one of a plurality of memory means storing a plurality of color image data. CONSTITUTION:A host 300 communicates with the CPU of a control part 3 through the external interface circuit 2 and signal line 11 of an interface part 100. At the time of communication, the control part 3 stores the compression data of a font in the RAM of the control part 3 and transmits non-compression data to an R-memory 5, a G-memory 6, a B-memory 7 and a Bk-memory 8 at every colors and selects a mode wherein image data is composed of Y, M, C and Bk or a mode wherein image data is composed of R, G and B while the flag content thereof is stored in the RAM of the control part 3. When font data synthesized into a non-compression data image of R, G and B is sent out, the font data is developed after finishing the DMA transmission of image data to the memories 5-7 to be stored in the Bk memory 8. The non- compression data composed of Y, M, C and Bk is stored in the memories 5-8. When a copy command is transmitted, the signals of the respective memories are simultaneously sent to an image processing circuit 9 to be subjected to color printing according to an image forming process.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an image processing device that processes input color image data.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, this type of device has either no memory, or even if it does have a memory of only a few lines, it forms an image by synchronizing it with an external signal, or it forms an image by using data in the memory on the host side. There were many things to do. Therefore,
In order to synthesize original image signals with characters, symbols, etc., it was necessary to perform complex synthesis processing on the host side. There were also questions about timing alignment between the host side and the output side of printers, etc.

Furthermore, there are various formats of color image data representing color images, and when printing in color using a specific color printer, it is necessary to supply color image data to the color printer in a format that can be processed by that color printer. Ta.

In addition, the number of color image data representing the same color image varies depending on the color image data format, and if the printer is equipped with memory to support all formats, processing of color image data of a certain format may be difficult. This may result in unused memory.

(Objective) The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and includes means for inputting a plurality of color image data representing a color image, and a plurality of storage means for storing the plurality of color image data. ,
The present invention provides an image processing device in which data different from color image data representing the color image can be stored in at least one of the plurality of storage means, and data different from color image data representing the color image. means for inputting a plurality of color image data in one mode and a plurality of color image data in a second mode, the number of which is larger than the color image data in the first mode; and a plurality of storage means for storing the plurality of color image data. The present invention provides an image processing device which performs different color processing depending on the mode of color image data stored in the plurality of storage means, and which can be used as is for color image recording. means for inputting a plurality of color image data in a first mode and a plurality of color image data in a second mode that requires a predetermined conversion process for color image recording; and a plurality of color image data for storing the plurality of color image data. An image processing device comprising a storage means and a conversion means for performing the predetermined conversion processing, the conversion means performing the predetermined conversion processing for the plurality of color image data in the second mode read from the storage means. The purpose is to provide rooms.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be explained below using preferred embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a color laser printer having a computer interface to which the present invention is applied.

The laser printer 80 is composed of an interface section 100 and a printer section 200. The color image data and commands transferred from the host 300 are stored, decoded, and variously controlled in the interface section 100, which will be explained later.The color separation image electrical signals are sent to the printer section 200 and printed in synchronization with the printer section. Ru.

The color image data from the interface unit 100 is P
WMIA processing and the like are applied to finally drive the laser.

The laser beam modulated according to the image data is scanned at high speed by a polygon mirror 2289 that rotates at high speed, and
290, the surface of the photosensitive drum 2900 is exposed to dots corresponding to the image. One horizontal scan of the laser beam corresponds to one horizontal scan of the image, which in this example is 1/16 mm.
The width is On the other hand, since the photosensitive drum 2900 is rotating at a constant speed in the direction of the arrow, a planar image is sequentially exposed by the above-described laser beam scanning in the main scanning direction and by constant rotation of the photosensitive drum 2900 in the sub-scanning direction. Prior to exposure, the photosensitive drum 2900 is uniformly charged by a charger 2297, and a latent image is formed by exposing the charged photosensitive member to light. Developing units 2292 to 22 corresponding to a predetermined color contain toners of four colors, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively, for a latent image based on a predetermined color signal.
It is visualized by 95.

For example, considering the first original exposure scan in a color reader, a dot image of the yellow component of the original is first exposed onto the photosensitive drum 2900 and developed by the yellow developer 1292 . Next, this yellow image is transferred and formed by a transfer charger 2298 onto a sheet of paper wound on a transfer drum 2296 at a contact point between the photosensitive drum 2900 and the transfer drum 2296. By repeating this same process for M (magenta), C (cyan), and Bk (black) and superimposing each image on the same sheet, a color image using four color toners is formed.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the internal configuration block diagram of the color laser printer shown in FIG. 1, in which 1 is a cable for connecting to an external computer, etc., and 2 is a control unit 3, which will be described later, for transmitting signals from an external host 300. and each color memory 5 to 8
and an external interface circuit for distributing and transmitting signals from the color laser printer to the host 300. 3 is a control unit for interpreting signals from the external interface circuit 2 as commands and data or for controlling the memories 5 to 8; 4 is a control unit for interpreting signals from the external interface circuit 2 or the external interface circuit 2 or an image processing circuit 9 to be described later; This is a data switch for selection.

5 is a digital data memory (abbreviated as R memory) for inputting and outputting red (R) or cyan (C) image data, and 6 is inputting and outputting green (G) or magenta (M) image data. Digital data memory (G memory for short), 7 is blue (B) or yellow (Y)
8 is a digital data memory (abbreviated as B memory) for inputting and outputting image data of black (BK) and character data (abbreviated as Bk memory).

9 is an image processing circuit that performs color processing such as color correction, black extraction, and γ correction on the image data output from each memory; 10 is a memory 5 to This is a synchronous signal processing circuit that generates a synchronous signal for driving 8.

11 is a signal line that connects the external interface circuit 2 and the control section 3; 12 is a signal line that connects the external interface circuit 2 and the data switch 4; 13 is a signal line that connects the data switch 4 and each memory 5 to 8;
14 is an address line that controls the control section 3 and each of the memories 5 to 8, and 15 to 18 are signal lines that connect the image data outputted from each of the memories 5 to 8 to the synchronous signal processing circuit 10 in synchronization with the image processing circuit. 19 is a control line for changing the processing content of the image processing circuit 9 according to data from the control unit 3; 20 is a control line for synchronously driving the memories 5 to 8 from the synchronous signal processing circuit 10; A synchronization signal line 21 is a synchronization signal line for synchronizing the image processing circuit, 22 is a synchronization signal line for synchronizing the interface section 100 and the printer section 200, and 23 is a signal line from the control section 3 to the data switch 4. Line for data transmission/reception and control, 2
4 is a communication line for controlling and communicating between the interface section 100 and the printer section 200; 25 is a data line for sending image data from the image processing circuit 9 to the printer section 200; and 26 is a synchronization signal from the control section 3. Control lines for controlling processing are shown.

A control unit 2500 of the printer unit 200 controls a selector of a binarization circuit, which will be described later, using a signal from the CPU 2110.

The image data 25 output from the reader section 100 is sent to the printer section 200's lll! 1m control circuit 2160. Since the speeds of the image clock of the reader section 100 and the image clock of the printer section 200 are different, the gradation control circuit 2160 has a function to synchronize them and a function to make the image data correspond to the color reproduction density of the printer section 200. are doing. Output data from the gradation control circuit 2160 is input to the laser driver 2200, which drives the laser 2223 to form an image.

The control unit 2500 of the printer unit 200 that communicates with the reader unit 100 via the communication control line 24
It controls each control element of 00. 2600 is photoreceptor 2
a potential sensor for detecting a charge charged at 900;
2700 controls the output from the potential sensor 2600 to the control unit 25.
This is a potential measurement unit that converts the digital signal into a digital signal via the A/D converter 2500 and inputs it to the control unit 2500.

The potential data manually input to the control unit 2500 is transmitted to the control unit 25.
It is read by the CPU 2110 of 00 and used for control. On the other hand, a signal from the sensor 2800 for detecting an image leading edge signal (ITop) is manually input to the control unit 2500 and used for control. Further, a humidity sensor 2298 and a temperature sensor 2299 for correcting development characteristics are inputted through the A/D conversion section 2503 of the control section 2500.

2220 is output from the laser 2223 and is sent to the photoreceptor 2900
This is a BD detector that detects the laser beam that scans the 2285 and generates a BD scratch signal that is a synchronization signal for each scan.
is photoreceptor 2900. Rotate the transfer drum 2296,
It is also a drive motor for conveying the paper.

The operation shown in FIG. 2 will be explained. The host 300 communicates with the CPU of the control section 3 via the cable 1, the external interface circuit 2 of the interface section 100, and the signal line 11. During communication, the control unit 3 stores compressed data such as fonts in the RAM of the control unit 3, and uses the internal DMAC of the control unit 3 to store uncompressed data on the signal line 12 and the signal line by operating the data switch 4. 13 and transfers image data for each color to each memory 5 to 8 using a control line 14. At that time, if the host 300 side is uncompressed data, Y, M,
The mode (format) of color image data, image data consisting of C, Bk or image data consisting of R, G, B, is selected and the contents of the flag are stored in the RAM of the control section 3.

If font data representing characters, symbols, etc. to be combined with an image represented by R, G, B uncompressed data is sent from the host 300, it is sent to the memories 5 to 7 for R, G, and B image data. After the DMA transfer is completed, the control unit 3 which stores the font controls the data switching 4 and the signal line 23
is connected to the signal line 13, and expanded by a predetermined program such as font data using the address line 14, and stored in the Bk memory 8.

Also, if it is uncompressed data such as '/, M, C, Bk, the data switching 4 is similarly controlled to connect the signal line 23 and the signal line 13, and the address line 14 is used to store it in the memories 5 to 8. .

At the same time as the data transfer to memories 5 to 8 is completed, the external host 3
A flag is sent to 00 indicating that memory expansion of data has been completed. The host 300 learns of the copy-enabled state through flag transfer, and when a copy request is transferred from the host 300, the control unit 3 starts the printer unit 200 and further controls each memory 5, 6, 7.8. In accordance with the synchronization signal sent from the synchronization signal processing circuit 10, the signals of each memory are simultaneously sent to the image IA logic circuit.

Then, the image processing circuit 9 receives the image data that has been image-processed according to requests such as the color characteristics of the memory, the Bk data characteristics, and the γ characteristics from the host via the control line 19 from the control unit 3.
The data line 25 corresponds to the color material developed by the printer section 200.
Send to.

The sent image data is printed in color according to the image forming process as described above.

FIG. 3 is a detailed diagram of the image processing circuit 9. First, R,G
, B, and Bk in each memory 5 to 8, Y.

When M, C, Bk information is stored and R9G, B
The former case will be explained first by separating the cases where information and Bk font expansion information are stored.

The control unit 3 has previously received a command to determine whether the transferred data from the host 300 is Y, M, C, Bk or R, G, B. In the case of Y, M, C, and Bk, a γ correction value that matches input data and output data one-to-one, or a γ correction value requested by the host side is set in advance in the γRAM 901.

The Y, M, C, and Bk image data read from the memories 5 to 8 are input to the selector 905 via the γRAM 901. At this time, the control section 3 obtains information on the developing color material (toner) from the signal from the printer section 100, so the selector 9 is operated so that color data corresponding to the information is output.
05 is selected, and the selector 906 is also controlled so that the CPU selects the output of the selector 905. At this time, the data on the UCR masking 902 side is prohibited from being output by the selector 906.

Next, a case where R, G, B information and Bk font information are developed in the memories 5 to 8 will be described. Each R,G
, the image data output from memories 5 to 7 of B is γRA
M901 performs -flog conversion and converts into Y, M', and C signals. At this time, the Bog coefficient is written to the γRAM 901 as data requested by the host 300.

On the other hand, for the Bk font information read from the memory 8, the γRAM 901 outputs data so that the input/output is 1.1. Let this output be Bkl.

Next, the output Y, M, and C data of γRAM901 are
R masking 902 separates unnecessary absorption spectral data of color materials and filters possessed by input devices and printers, and performs masking processing for faithful color reproduction and processing for generating Bk from the respective minimum values of the MMC signal. This Bk signal is designated as Bk2.

Therefore, the output Bkl of the γRAM 901 and the output Bk2 of the UCR 902 are subjected to steaming processing 903 and outputted as Bk3 according to predetermined data from the CPU of the control unit 3. A selector 904 outputs Y, M, C, and Bk information in accordance with the developing color material (toner) of the printer.

FIG. 4 is a detailed block diagram of the steaming process 903.

The multivalued data Bk2, which is the output data of the γRAM 901, is input to the selector 910, and the font data Bkl is input to the multiplexer 907. Then, the multiplexer 907 and selector 910 are operated by the bit data selected from the CPU, and the selected data group is
Output as 3. 908 is a buffer for converting a certain bit of data output from the multiplexer into multi-value data. 909 is font data Bk1 and UCR9
This is an OR circuit for synthesizing output data Bk2 from Bk2. 910, data Bkl, data Bk2 . Bk
This is a selector that outputs either the composite data of 1 and Bk2 or the font Bk data according to the CPU's selection.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the Bk mesori 8. 8 is a Bk memory having a depth of 8 bits, and each bit brain can be selected by chip selects C30 to C37. 802 is a decoder that decodes a signal from the CPU, and 803 is a selector that selects whether to select a memory according to the decode output or to select all memories regardless of the decode output. The selector 803 can select whether to develop multivalued bit data or bit-corresponding font data, and also allows the image processing circuit 9 to select a font when outputting data from the memory.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of the control section 3.

First, in Sl, it is determined whether the information transmitted from the host 300 is a control command. If it is a control command, S
2, various settings of the interface section 1oo are executed according to the control commands. At this time, the image processing circuit 9. Various selections and constant settings for the evaporation processing circuit 903 are performed. Also,
Whether the data to be sent is Y, M, C, Bk data,
Mode settings for color image data, such as whether it is R2O or B data, are also performed. In addition, an information host 300 of the printer unit 200
Provide services to For example, paper size.

Are you doing weights, etc.

Next, after a predetermined procedure, it is determined in step 33 whether or not it is a data command, and if it is a data command, the command data is stored in the RAM in step s4. Next, in S5, it is determined whether Bk data exists or not, and if there is no Bk data, the compressed data is converted into a font and developed in the Bk memory 8 (S6). If it is determined in S7 that the expansion to the Bk memory is completed, print output is detected in S8. If the expansion is not completed, return to Sl.

If there is a print signal in S8, the printer is activated from the control line 24 in S9 and the synchronization signal processing 10 is also driven at the same time.

Also, selectors 904, 905, 90 of the image processing circuit 9
6 is selected to control the output of color information corresponding to the color of the developing device of the printer.

The SIO determines whether printing has ended or not, and if there is an error, performs error processing such as notifying the host of the abnormality as shown in S14. In this case, you can recover from the error process by manually resetting the printer or the like. If printing is completed without any errors, the process returns to Sl and communicates with the host.

On the other hand, if the data is video data in S11, the interface unit 100 transfers the data to the memories 5 to 8 by DMA through the external interface unit 2 and data switching 4 in S12. When the data transfer is completed, the process advances to S5 and the above-mentioned processing is performed.

[Other Examples]

In the above explanation, the memories 5 to 8 for four colors are used, but instead of writing fonts in the Bk memory, a memory dedicated to fonts may be provided.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of another embodiment including a font memory, in which a font bitmap memory 27 connected to the signal line 13 is added to FIG. Data is input/output from 13 signal lines like the others, and the address from control is given via address line 14, and when printing out, it is controlled by a synchronization signal 20. The image processing circuit 9 in the configuration shown in FIG. 7 is shown in FIG. The difference from the image processing circuit shown in FIG. 3 is that font data from a font memory 27 is input to an evaporator 903 and an OR circuit 911 to synthesize fonts and black characters. FIG. 9 is an explanation of the evaporation processing section 903 in the configuration shown in FIG. 7, in which font data can be selected by a multiplexer 912.

In the above embodiments, the printer section is equipped with toners of four colors, but a printer equipped with toners of three colors Y, M, and C may also be used.

Also, as a memory for storing fonts, memory 8 of memories 5 to 8 or a separately provided font memory 27 can be used.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of memories for storing fonts may be provided. According to this, 9 characters for multiple sides
It becomes possible to perform processing such as compositing figures, overwriting, etc.

Further, although a color laser printer has been described as an example of a printer, the present invention is not limited to this, and a thermal printer, an inkjet printer, or the like can also be used.

Furthermore, the color image data is not limited to that input from the host, but can also be processed on color image data obtained by color separation and photoelectric conversion of a color image using a color scanner or the like.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the present invention includes means for inputting a plurality of color image data representing a color image, and a plurality of storage means for storing the plurality of color image data; Since it is possible to store data different from the color-image data representing the color image in at least one of the plurality of storage means, it is easy to combine, for example, nine graphic characters and the input color image. means for inputting a plurality of color image data in a first mode representing a color image and a plurality of color image data in a second mode whose number is larger than the color image data in the first mode; It has a plurality of storage means for storing color image data, and performs different color processing depending on the mode of the color image data stored in the plurality of storage means. In addition, a plurality of color image data in the first mode that can be used as is for color image recording and a plurality of color image data in the second mode that require predetermined conversion processing for color image recording. a plurality of storage means for storing the plurality of color image data, and a conversion means for performing the predetermined conversion process, and the conversion means is configured to input the color image data read from the storage means. Since a predetermined conversion process is performed on a plurality of color image data in the second mode, it is possible to sufficiently cope with the input of color image data in a mode that cannot be directly used for image recording.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a color laser printer to which the present invention is applied, Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the internal configuration of the color laser printer shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a detailed block diagram of an image processing circuit, and Fig. 4 is a detailed block diagram of the non-processing circuit, Figure 5 is a configuration diagram of Bk memory, Figure 6 is a flowchart diagram of the control section, Figure 7 is a block diagram of other configurations of the color laser printer, and Figure 8 is image processing. Block diagram of other configurations of the circuit FIG. 9 is a block diagram of other configurations of the non-processing circuit, 100 is an interface section, 2oo is a printer section, 2
292 to 2295 are developing devices, 5 to 8 are memories, 3 is a control unit, and 9 is an image processing circuit. CPt/

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A means for inputting a plurality of color image data representing a color image, and a plurality of storage means for storing the plurality of color image data, wherein at least one of the plurality of storage means An image processing device characterized in that it is capable of storing data different from color image data representing the color image. (2) means for inputting a plurality of color image data in a first mode representing a color image and a plurality of color image data in a second mode whose number is larger than the color image data in the first mode; and the plurality of color images An image processing apparatus comprising: a plurality of storage means for storing data; and performing different color processing depending on a mode of color image data stored in the plurality of storage means. (3) means for inputting a plurality of color image data in a first mode that can be used as is for color image recording and a plurality of color image data in a second mode that requires predetermined conversion processing for color image recording; , comprising a plurality of storage means for storing the plurality of color image data, and a conversion means for performing the predetermined conversion process, and the conversion means stores the plurality of color image data in the second mode read from the storage means. An image processing device characterized by performing a predetermined conversion process on an image.