JPH03214273A - Image discriminating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily recognize the parts of an original image where the trimming and masking operations are carried out by calculating a virtual marker line to turn the discontinuous parts into a continuous part if the distance between discontinuous parts is smaller than the prescribed value and detecting an area enclosed by a two-dimensional marker line. CONSTITUTION:A 1st detection means detects the start and end points of a marker line of each scanning line based on the data stored in a memory 2. Then a one-dimensional marker line is detected for each scanning line. A 2nd detection means judges the head and continuity properties of the marker line and calculates a virtual marker line to turn the discontinuous parts into a continuous part as long as the distance between discontinuous parts is smaller than the prescribed value. Thus an area enclosed by a two-dimensional marker line is detected. Both detection means are embodied based on the processing program that is previously stored in a memory of a central control part 10. Thus a processing carry-out part is easily recognized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image discriminating device that discriminates an area surrounded by marker lines (for example, drawn with a half-tone marker pen) in a half-tone region of a document image. For example, it is suitable for performing image processing on a document in a digital copying machine, a facsimile machine, or the like.

[Background of the Invention] Conventionally, when processing, for example, trimming or masking, on a specific part of a building drawing, the @ area in the original image where the above processing is to be performed is recognized on the coordinates, and the coordinate data is calculated. It must be specified from the number, which is a troublesome task for the operator.

Therefore, the inventors of the present invention have conducted extensive research with the aim of creating a device that can reliably recognize the above-mentioned specific portions with only simple operations. It has been possible to create an apparatus having a function that allows the user to easily recognize the part to be processed by simply surrounding it with a marker line in a neutral color drawn with a marker pen or the like.

Means for Solving Problem C] In order to achieve the above object, the main means adopted by the present invention is that the main means adopted by the present invention is to identify an area surrounded by marker lines in an intermediate country area of a document image. The discrimination device includes a binarization processing means for binarizing the read data of the original image using two different threshold values, a storage means for storing the data obtained by the binarization processing means, and the storage. The start and end points of the marker line for each scanning line are detected from the data stored by the means, and a one-dimensional marker line for each line is detected! 1 detection means and the above @1
From the mutual relationship of the one-dimensional marker lines for each line detected by the detection means, the leading character of the marker line with respect to the plane of the manuscript and the i! Considering the continuity, a virtual marker line is calculated for the discontinuous part 62 when this discontinuous part is less than a predetermined distance, and the discontinuous part is made continuous, and a two-dimensional machining force line is created. This is an image discriminating device comprising: second detection means for detecting an area surrounded by . [Operation] In the image discriminating device according to the present invention, the read data of the original image is binarized by the 2+m processing means using two different threshold values (for example, the binoto corresponding to the black and white area is
，Middle! ! ! Classify the binoto corresponding to the i area as 1)
Then, from the data stored by the storage means, the first detection means detects the start point and end point of the marker line for each scanning line, and the start and end points of the marker line for each scanning line are detected. After the one-dimensional marker line is detected, the second horizontal extraction means determines the plane of the document from the mutual relationship of the one-dimensional marker lines for each line detected by the first detection means. The leading character and continuity of the marker line are determined, and if the discontinuous portion is marked with a ta J'-, then this discontinuity is detected. If the continuous portion is less than a predetermined distance, a virtual marker line is calculated to make the discontinuous portion continuous, and an area surrounded by the two-dimensional marker line is detected. [Examples] Examples embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide an understanding of the present invention. It should be noted that the following examples are examples embodying the present invention, and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.

Here, FIG. 1 shows ii! according to an embodiment of the present invention! Bronok diagram of the image discrimination device! JS2 diagram +a+. 11. Ic
) is a flowchart showing the procedure for determining an area surrounded by marker lines using the image discriminator W, and FIG. Explanatory diagram, Figure 4(a), false 1. tC) is an explanatory diagram for determining the continuity of the above-mentioned halftone regions on the plane of the prefectural area from the mutual relationship of the one-dimensional halftone regions, and FIG. 4+di is a marker line of the one-dimensional intermediate country region. Figures 5 (al to (j)) are explanatory diagrams for determining the leading character of the marker line on the plane of the product from the mutual relationship between the two, and Figures 5 (al to (j)) respectively show various patterns of the marker line on the original product and part of their data. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example. As shown in FIG.
The read data of the original 'f & image is set to two different thresholds T.
＋． A binarization processing means 1 that binarizes at T2 (see FIG. 3), a storage means 2 that stores the data obtained by the binarization processing means 1, and a data stored in the storage means 2. Detecting means '@1 detecting the starting point and ending point of the marker line (halftone area) for each scanning line and detecting the one-dimensional marker line for each line, and the first detecting means described above. The leading character and continuity of the marker line with respect to the plane of the document are determined from the one-dimensional mutual relationship of the marker lines for each line, and for discontinuous portions, if this discontinuous portion is less than a predetermined distance, and second detection means that calculates a virtual marker line to make the discontinuous portion continuous and detects an area surrounded by the two-dimensional marker line.

In addition to the above-mentioned configuration, the device of this embodiment also has the above-mentioned second
The apparatus is also equipped with a switching means 3 for performing image processing according to the data of the area surrounded by the two-dimensional marker line detected by the detection means. In the binarization processing means 1, the read data of the original image is compared with a value below a first threshold value in a first data comparison section 4, and further compared with a second threshold value T2 in a second data comparison section 5. Then, each data is applied to the AND gate 6, ! The read data with a value smaller than the second threshold T1 is set as white bit 70, and the read data with a value larger than the second threshold T1 is set as white bit 0.

Further, the read data having a value larger than the first threshold value T1 and smaller than the second threshold value T2 is extracted as intermediate reading data 1. As described above, the binarization processing means 1 generates 2{+! The processed data is sampled at, for example, a frequency of ⅛ in order to reduce the amount of information stored, and is input to the storage stage 2.

The read data of the original image is obtained by converting the output signal from the CCD line sensor 7 into digital data by the A/D converter 8, and converting one line into density data divided into 256 gradations for each dot. It is stored in the line memory 9.

Then, data for one line is output from the line memory 9 in response to a horizontal synchronization signal (not shown).

The data output from the line memory 9 is output to the binarization processing means 1 via the switch SWI during sub-scanning. The above-mentioned Suinochi SWI is switched during image processing, and the image information is read again by the CCD line sensor 7, and the image data for each line is sent to the pseudo halftone processing section 14 (determining data according to the gradation) and The data is output to the switching means 3 through the data vanifer 15. Then, the -F notation switching means 3 operates based on data from the central control unit 10 (including position information and size information of the original).

In this case, by using, as the data buffer 15, a memory equivalent to the memory 8 times the capacity of the storage means 2, it is possible to omit the sub-scanning operation during image processing. The first detection means and the second detection means are realized by a processing program stored in a memory in the central control unit 10 in advance.

The switching means 3 is constituted by a logic circuit comprising a plurality of gates, and the data sampled at a frequency of 1/8 and stored in the storage means 2 as described above are each multiplied by 8. and is input to the gate of the switching means 3. In this case, the data stored in the storage means 2 is processed in advance by the central control unit 10 as data for specifying the @ area surrounded by two-dimensional marker lines. Therefore, by operating the switching means 3 based on the signal from the storage means 2, image processing is performed according to the data of the area surrounded by the two-dimensional marker line detected by the second detection means. This is done sequentially and selectively at high speed. In this case, image processing is performed by, for example, changing the pattern of the dither matrix and controlling the laser emitting section 11 on and off in accordance with this pattern. The image discrimination device according to this embodiment is configured as described above. Continuing, Fig. 1, Fig. 2 fa+, (b). The processing procedure of the apparatus of this embodiment will be explained based on tc+ and FIG. In addition, in Figure l@2, Sl. S2. ...indicates each operation step. First, in S1, for the data in the storage means 2,
The line number and address are set at the origin of the scanned area by the central control unit 10. The data for each line is converted from black and white to 0,
The signal is binarized with the intermediate open binoto set to 1, is pre-signed at a frequency of 1/8, and is input into the storage means 2.

Subsequently, in S2, the start and end points of the marker line are detected for one line of data and stored in the program memory 12 in the central control unit IO.

The details of the sabotage procedure in Stenobu S2 above are shown in Figure 2)
The explanation will be based on.

First, when an address is set at the beginning of the line to be scanned, S2. At , a search for the beginning of the halftone area is performed.

And S2. In this case, it is determined whether or not the starting point of the intermediate tone area (conditions are satisfied) is determined. If the address of the starting point of the halftone area detected in this way is determined to be the starting point of the halftone area, the native part of the n binoto is determined as the starting point of the halftone area.
S2c).

Subsequently, in S2, the first six searches of the white base area are performed. And S2, . In W Kihaku I! A judgment W is made as to whether or not the conditions for the starting point of the l area are satisfied.
In this case, if, for example, a predetermined predetermined}, for example, a T binoto, an S bin or more is occupied by a Shiraho binoto O, the beginning of this S h,,,t is the starting point of the white l area. A judgment will be made. Then, the starting point of the black and white area detected as above (
The address obtained by subtracting . Subsequently, at 32g, the width dimension of this area is calculated from the start and end points of the intermediate tl[l@ area, and if this value is greater than a predetermined dimension (for example, 5fi or more), the above-mentioned intermediate tone @
area is recognized as part of the marker line (S 2b )
- The processing in S2b and S2 above is performed in S24 and S2 regardless of the presence or absence of a marker line in the scanning line.
S until it is determined that scanning has ended at h.
2, and in S2r, the address is incremented and continued.6 Note that if it is determined that scanning has ended in S2, the halftone @ area exists in the western part of the document, so A flag is set in S2ffi for the purpose of indicating a stop where a marker line is formed at the edge of the document.

In the case of a mouth, first detection means detects the starting point and end point of the marker line for each scanning line from the data stored in the storage means 2 in the above S2, and detects a one-dimensional marker line regarding each line. is configured. Since the above-mentioned starting point and ending point are determined from the proportion of the half-tone binoto or white-tooth binoto in the compound binoto as described above, misjudgment caused by scratches or dirt in the image within the manuscript can be avoided. .

When the start point and end point of the marker line in each line are detected as described above and stored in the program memory 12, in S3 (see ta+ in FIG. 2), the start point and end point of the marker area information of the previous line are detected. The end line (a deliberate division that takes into account the scanning direction when processing marker line data, see Figure 3) information and continuity are determined, and the line is not registered in the marker area of the current line. Then, flag 1 of the marker area information of the previous line determined to be continuous is set.

In this case, if there is continuity between both the start line and the end line of the marker area information of the previous line, or if there is continuity with the end line, the process of the steno knob S2 is performed.

On the other hand, if continuity is denied in S3 above,
In S4, the leading character of the detected marker line is determined, and the data is registered in the marker area of the current line.

Here, as shown in FIG. 4(a), for example, if the starting point of the one-dimensional marker line on the previous line is XA and the starting point of the current line is XO, then the above XA
Difference Δ in the number of binoto in the row direction between B, G and XO binoto
When X is less than or equal to a predetermined number of binots, it is determined that there is two-dimensional continuity between the marker success in the previous line and the current line.

Incidentally, such processing is also performed on the end point of each line, and if it is determined that there is continuity at the start point or end point, then it is determined that there is continuity as a marker line. .

If continuity is denied at this point, in Figure 4), for example, for line numbers 4 and 5, the position of line number 6 corresponding to x5 binoto of line number 5 is halftone bit 1. A judgment is made as to whether or not
In the case of halftone bisoto 1, X5 is registered as the starting point of the area of line number 5. In addition, the above line numbers 4.5 and 6 are shown in Figure 4 +c+
If there is a relationship as shown in , it is determined whether or not the position of line number 6 corresponding to the X4 bit of line number 4 is intermediate tone bit, g1.
[If it is 1, X4 is registered as the starting point of the area of line number 5 (X5 is removed as an irregular point).

Such processing is also performed on the end point of each line, and if each of the ten conditions is not satisfied, it is finally determined that the end point is not the marker line area.

In addition, as shown in Fig. 4 (id), for example, between the current line and the B tan-in, for the XO bit and the is occupied by intermediate country Binoto 1, it is determined that the current line is the leading portion of the two-dimensional marker line.

For example, as shown in ta+ in FIG. 5, if the marker line information (XO.Xi) of the current line satisfies the leading character, these data are registered in the program memory 12 as the marker area of the current line. Ru. That is, the starting point X, . And XO is registered as the start point X8 of the end line, the end point Xse of the start line, and the end point X0 of the end line. ×1 is registered as . When the leading character of the marker line is determined as described above, the marker line is detected again in S2, and S
3, the continuity is determined.

A specific example will be described in which the continuity of marker area information between the previous line and the current line is determined and registered in step S3 above based on FIG. First, in the case shown in Figure 5), the marker area 1 of the previous line regarding the marker line information (XO.
When it is determined that the starting points XA and XO of the starting line are continuous, (XO.XI) is registered as the starting point and ending point of the starting line of the marker area 1 of the current line. Additionally, if it is determined that the end points XB and X1 of the end line of the marker area l of the previous line are continuous, the above (XO.XI) is registered as the start and end points of the end line of the marker area 1 of the current line. be done.

In the case shown in FIG. 5(C), the starting points XA and X of the starting line of the marker area 2 of the previous line regarding the marker line information (Xo o. Xol) of the current line. If it is determined that there is continuity with 0, (Xoo − xo+) is registered as the starting point and ending point of the starting line of marker area 1 of the current line.

In the case shown in Fig. 5 fd), the marker area 1 of the previous line regarding the marker line information (Xoo.
The starting point XA and x0 of the starting line. If it is determined that there is continuity or that there is continuity between the end point XB of the starting line and XOI, (Xo... be registered. In the case shown in FIG. 5 tel, if it is determined that the starting points XA and XO of the starting line of the marker area 1 of the previous line are continuous regarding the marker line information (XO, XI) of the current line,
(XO. After being processed as the starting line of the marker area information of the previous line in S3 as described above as having continuity,
In S5, marker lines are detected in the scanning line as in the case of S2, and subsequently in S6, the end line of the marker area information of the previous line, which is determined to have continuity with respect to the marker line detected in S3, is detected. Continuity of information is judged. If there is continuity, the data is registered in the marker area of the current line, and flag 2 of the marker area information of the previous continuous line is set. If continuity is denied in S6, the same process as in S4 is performed in S7. This corresponds to processing when the starting line and/or ending line forming the marker line is interrupted. Figure 5 (C1 to Figure 5) A specific example will be described in which the continuity with the marker area information of the previous line is determined in S6 above based on Cl to let, and that data is registered. In the case shown in , the marker line information (X+..X,,) of the current line is determined to have continuity in the previous line's marker area 2 cx
e. ．． xee) and continuity judgment is made, and XB and Xl+
When it is determined that there is continuity, (X+..XI+
) are registered as the start and end points of the end line of marker area 1 of the current line. In the case shown in FIG. 5fd+, the marker line information (X+0.X++) of the current line is
XC and X of the end line of marker area 1 of the previous line that was determined to have continuity. is continuous or XD and Xl1
If it is determined that there is continuity, (XX, 1) is registered as the start and end points of the end line of marker area 1 of the current line. In the case shown in FIG. 5 (tel), when it is determined that the end line XD and X1 of the marker area 1 of the previous line, which was determined to be continuous in S3, are continuous, (XO.
XI) are registered as the start and end points of the end line of marker area 1 of the current line. When it is determined that the scanning process for each line is completed as described above (38), S
In step 9, the memory of the current line 10 lines is scanned for marker area information of the previous line that does not have continuity with the marker line of the current line, and it is determined whether there is a break of +n lines or more. When it is determined that the marker lines are continuous, the marker area information of the previous line is written to the marker area information of the current line. Note that if 10 or more lines are interrupted or if flags 1 and 2 are both 1, the above writing process will not be performed.For the detailed processing procedure in S9 above, see Figure 2 fcl and Figure 5. (The explanation will be based on fl to fjl.

First, at 3 9 m, the marker area information of the previous line is scanned to search for a marker area where either flag l or flag 2 is 0 or both are 0. When flag 1 is 0 (see Fig. 5 (g+), in S9h, the position 11X indicated by the marker area of the previous line is
A. Continuity judgment is made for XB. That is, in FIG. 5tfl, for example, XA' . XA'+I. Any one of XA' -1 is halftone binoto 1, and XB'XB' +1
, XB' -1 is an intermediate link 1, it is determined that there is continuity, and in S9o, XA. XB is written. On the other hand, if continuity is denied in S91, the end line information (XO. If flag 2 is determined to be 0 in step 39a,
At the current line + n lines, the coordinates XC. indicated by the marker area of the previous line. Continuity is determined for XD using the same process as in S9b (see S9e, fhl in FIG. 5). If it is determined in S9e that there is continuity, XC and XD are written on the end line of the marker area of the current line indicated by flag 2 in S9+. On the other hand, if continuity is denied in S9e above, (XO.Xi) as starting line information is written in the last line of the marker area of the current line indicated by flag 2 in 39g. If it is determined in S9 that both flags 1.2 are O, it is determined in S9i whether the starting line information and ending line information of the marker area information of the previous line are the same. If it is determined in S9i that the starting line information and the ending line information are different, in S9, the position fl indicated by the marker area of the previous line at the current line + n lines is determined.
XA. XB. XC. Regarding XD, S91 and s9
Continuity is determined using the procedure shown in . Then, in S9i above, the beginning II! ! If it is determined that both (XA.XB) and the end line (XC. (XC
．． XD) is written. In this case, the flags 1 and 2 are reset when the marker area information of the current line is slid to the marker area information of the previous line.

As described above, a virtual marker line is calculated for a discontinuous portion of a marker line when the discontinuous portion is less than a predetermined distance, and the discontinuous portion is made continuous. As a result, even if the marker line is interrupted in the middle, the area surrounded by the marker line can be reliably detected. The area surrounded by the marker line is detected as described above,
Then, in the SIO, it is determined whether or not, for example, marker 1 rimming processing is to be performed on that area.

If it is determined in step 510 that trimming processing is to be performed, 0 is written in the marker area and 1 is written in the memorandum of the current line in Sll. On the other hand, if it is determined in the above SIO that trimming processing is not to be performed, 1 is written in the marker area on the memory of the current line and 0 is written in other areas, and masking processing is performed (
S12) Surface In this case, the marker area, that is, the area surrounded by the marker line, is recognized as being within the range from the starting point of the starting line to the ending point of the ending line. However, if there is no start line or end line information, the range from each start point to the end point of the end line or start line is recognized as a marker area.

In this case, the above! by S3, S4 and S6 to S12! Based on the mutual relationship of the one-dimensional marker lines for each line detected by the detection means 1, the leading character and continuity of the marker line with respect to the plane of the document are determined, and for discontinuous portions, the discontinuous portion is determined. is less than a predetermined distance, a second detection means is configured that calculates a temporary marker line, connects the discontinuous portions, and detects an area surrounded by the two-dimensional marker line.

The above-mentioned processing is performed while alternatingly updating the marker area information of the current line and the marker area information of the previous line until it is determined that the entire scan@area has been completed (513). In this case, each data is compressed to 1/8. Thereafter, the switching means 3 is controlled to switch according to the data of the area surrounded by two-dimensional marker lines detected like a doki, and image processing corresponding to masking or trimming is sequentially and selectively performed at high speed. Implemented.

Therefore, according to the image discriminating device according to the present embodiment, it is extremely easy to detect a portion of a draft image where processing such as trimming or masking is to be performed by simply surrounding it with a marker line of a neutral tone such as a marker pen. be able to.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the present invention is an image discriminating device that discriminates an area surrounded by a marker edge in a halftone @ region of a document image, and the present invention binarizes the read data of the document image using two different threshold values. a binarization processing means for storing the data obtained by the binarization processing means; a storage means for storing the data obtained by the binarization processing means; detecting a starting point and an end point of a marker line for each scanning line from the data stored by the storage means; A first detecting means for detecting a one-dimensional marker line regarding each line, and a marker line regarding the plane of the document based on the mutual relationship between the one-dimensional marker line for each line detected by the first detecting means. For discontinuous parts, if this discontinuous part is less than a predetermined distance, a virtual marker line is calculated and the discontinuous part is made continuous, and a two-dimensional marker line is determined. This image discriminating device is characterized in that it is equipped with a second detection means for detecting the area surrounded by the image, and therefore it is possible to extremely easily recognize the portion of the document image where trimming or masking processing is to be performed. can do.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image discriminating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. Flowchart, Figure 3 shows 2 on the original image.
FIG. 4 (al. (bl. tc)) is an explanatory diagram for detecting an area surrounded by dimensional marker lines. FIG. 4 fd+ is an explanatory diagram for determining the continuity of the marker lines in the one-dimensional halftone area. FIG. Figures +a+ to 01 are explanatory views showing various patterns of marker lines on a document and specific examples of their data. [Explanation of symbols] 1...Binarization processing means 2...Storage means 4...
First data comparison section 5...Second data comparison section 6...
AND GATE ] 0...Central control unit 12...Program memory 81-513...Operation steno knob

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An image discrimination device for discriminating a region surrounded by a marker line in a halftone region of a document image, which binarizes read data of the document image using two different threshold values. digitization processing means; storage means for storing the data obtained by the binarization processing means; detecting the starting point and end point of the marker line for each scanning line from the data stored by the storage means; and a first detection means for detecting a one-dimensional marker line regarding the plane of the document, based on the mutual relationship of the one-dimensional marker line for each line detected by the first detection means. For discontinuous parts, if this discontinuous part is less than a predetermined distance, a virtual marker line is calculated to make the discontinuous part continuous and surrounded by two-dimensional marker lines. 1. An image discriminating device comprising: second detecting means for detecting an area where the image is detected.