JPH04302271A - Image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention particularly relates to an image processing apparatus having a function of detecting a specific original.

0002

[Background Art] In recent years, with the increase in image quality and colorization of copying machines, there has been a risk of forgery of specific documents such as banknotes and securities. A pattern matching method has been proposed for In this method, after correcting the inclination of an input document image, matching with a pre-registered image pattern shape is performed.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above embodiment, since there is no means for the image processing device to recognize the state of the image recognition means, in particular, the image recognition means and the image processing device are installed on separate boards. If the board, which is the image recognition means, is removed, even if the recognition target is a specific original, it will be copied normally. In other words, it will be easy to copy the original. The disadvantage was that it was carried out.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional example, and its purpose is to prevent forgery of a specific document by allowing an image processing device to recognize the state of the image recognition means. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing device that can prevent the above problems.

[0005]

[Means for solving the problem] Solving the above problems,
In order to achieve the object, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a processing means for electrically processing an input image signal, a determining means for determining the degree of similarity between the input image and a specific document from the input image signal, and the a determining means for determining processing contents of the processing means based on a determination result of the determining means; and an output means for outputting a processing result of the processing means according to the processing contents determined by the determining means, the determining means , further characterized in that the processing content is determined based on the physical state of the determining means.

[0006]

According to this configuration, the processing content of the input image signal is determined based on the degree of similarity between the input image based on the input image signal and the specific document and the physical state of the determining means.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the following embodiments, a copying machine is shown as an application example of the present invention, but the present invention is of course not limited to this and can be applied to various other apparatuses. Furthermore, in each device applicable to the present invention, specific documents such as banknotes and securities are targeted for counterfeit prevention.

(First Embodiment) First, the overall structure of the copying apparatus will be explained.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the structure of a copying apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 201 is an image scanner section, which reads an original and performs digital signal processing. Further, 202 is a printer section, which prints out an image corresponding to the original image read by the image scanner section 201 on paper in full color.

In the image scanner section 201, 20
0 is a mirror pressure plate, and the platen glass (hereinafter referred to as "platen")
A document 204 on a 3-line sensor (referred to as "CCD") 2 is irradiated by a lamp 205, guided by mirrors 206, 207, and 208, and is transferred to a three-line sensor (referred to as "CCD") 2 by a lens 209.
The signal processing unit 211 forms an image on 10 and outputs full color information as red (R), green (G), and blue (B) components.
sent to. In addition, 205 and 206 are speeds v, 207,
208 scans the entire surface of the document by mechanically moving at 1/2v in a direction perpendicular to the electrical scanning direction of the line sensor. The signal processing unit 211 electrically processes the read image signal, decomposes it into magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (Bk) components, and sends them to the printer unit 202. In addition, the image scanner section 2
For one document scan (scanner) in 01, M,
One of the C, Y, and Bk components is sent to the printer unit 202, and one printing operation is completed by scanning the document four times in total.

M, C, Y or Bk image signals sent from the image scanner section 201 are sent to a laser driver 212. The laser driver 212 modulates and drives the semiconductor laser 213 according to the sent image signal. The laser beam is transmitted through a polygon mirror 214, an f-θ lens 215,
A photosensitive drum 217 is scanned through a mirror 216.

Reference numeral 218 denotes a rotary developing device, which includes a magenta developing section 219, a cyan developing section 220, and a yellow developing section 221.
, a black developing section 222, and four developing devices alternately contact the photosensitive drum 217 to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 217 with toner. Reference numeral 223 denotes a transfer drum, which winds the paper fed from the paper cassette 224 or 225 around the transfer drum 223, and transfers the image developed on the photosensitive drum 217 onto the paper.

After the four colors M, C, Y, and Bk have been sequentially transferred in this manner, the paper passes through the fixing unit 226, and after the toner is fixed on the paper, it is discharged.

<Image Scanner> FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image scanner section 201 according to the first embodiment. In the same figure, 210-1, 210-2, 2
10-3 is a CCD (solid-state image sensor) that has red (R), green (G), and blue (B) spectral sensitivity characteristics, and outputs a quantized signal of 8 bits representing 0 to 255. Ru.

Sensor 2 used in this embodiment
10-1, 210-2, and 210-3 are arranged at a certain distance, so that the delay elements 401 and 402
The spatial deviation is corrected at .

Log converters 403, 404, and 405 are constructed from a lookup table ROM or RAM, and convert a luminance signal into a density signal. 406 is a well-known masking and UCR (undercolor removal) circuit, and although a detailed explanation is omitted, it
Y, M, C, and Bk signals for output are sequentially output with a predetermined bit length, for example, 8 bits, for each reading operation.

Reference numeral 407 denotes a well-known spatial filter, which corrects the spatial frequency of the output signal. Reference numeral 408 denotes a density conversion circuit, which corrects the density characteristics of the printer section 202, and is constructed from a lookup table ROM or RAM, like the log converters 403 to 405. Reference numeral 409 denotes a specific document determination circuit, which determines whether at least one of a plurality of specific documents is being read, and outputs a determination signal H of 0 or 1. That is,
If it is determined that the input image corresponds to at least one of the plurality of specific documents, H=1 is output, otherwise H=0 is output.

Reference numeral 410 denotes an OR gate circuit, in which the 8-bit output V of the concentration conversion circuit 408 is logically summed with the judgment signal H which is the output of the judgment circuit 409, and the V
' is output. As a result, when the judgment signal H=1, that is, when it is judged that a specific document is being read, the output is V'=FF(H
: hexadecimal) When the determination signal H=0, that is, when it is not determined that a specific document is being read, the input signal V is output as is as the output V'.

<Timing Chart> FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing the structure of the thinning circuit according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing the structure of the frequency dividing circuit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a timing chart of signals in the main scanning direction in the first embodiment. HSYNC is a main scanning synchronization signal, and is a signal for synchronizing the start of main scanning. CLK is an image transfer clock and is a basic clock for various image processing in this embodiment. Also CLK'
is the CLK signal divided by 1/4, and serves as the basic clock in the determination circuit 409. The SEL signal is a timing signal used in the above-mentioned thinning circuit 301, and is generated by a circuit as shown in FIG. 6, respectively. That is, it is composed of an inverter 451, a 2-bit counter 452, an inverter 453, and an AND gate 454. The 2-bit counter 452 receives the main scanning synchronization signal HS.
After being cleared (initialized) by the YNC signal, the CLK
It counts the signals and outputs the count value using 2 bits (D0, D1). The upper bit D1 of the count value is output as a CLK' signal, and the AND of the inverted signal of the lower bit D0 and the upper bit D1 is output as an SEL signal.

As a result, in the thinning circuit shown in FIG. 5, data is held by the CLK signal. flipflop 4
As shown in FIG. 8, the CLK signal is From the R (or G, B) signals transferred as signals, it is possible to obtain the R' (or G', B') signal that is thinned out at a rate of 1/4 and synchronized with CLK'. .

<Determination Circuit> FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the determination circuit 409 according to the first embodiment. In the figure, 301 is a thinning circuit as shown in FIG. 5, which thins out data in order to reduce the processing load of the determination circuit. Reference numeral 302 denotes a color matching LUT (hereinafter referred to as "color matching LUT"), which performs color matching with a plurality of types of target images, that is, a specific document. 303-1, 303-2,..., 303-8
are color judgment circuits each composed of the same hardware. Each color determination circuit includes an integrator 30 shown in FIG.
6, a register 307, and a comparator 308, each of which determines whether or not a specific image (color tone) that can be determined to be a specific document exists in the document. The contents of register 307 are different among registers 303-1 to 303-8. 309 is O
This is an R circuit, and when it is determined that there is a specific image in one or more of the outputs of the color determination circuits 303-1 to 303-8, the output is "0", and when it is determined that there is no specific image, the output is "1".
” is output as the determination signal H. In this embodiment,
Although the similarity determination signal is one bit, it is also possible to output a multi-valued determination signal indicating the degree of similarity between the input image and the specific image. For this purpose, a plurality of registers 307 may be provided and a plurality of slice levels may be set.

<Integrator> FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the integrator 306 according to the first embodiment. In the figure, 501 and 505 are flip-flops that store data at the rising timing of the CLK' signal. 502
is a multiplier that inputs two 8-bit input signals (A, B) and outputs an 8-bit signal (AXB/255
) is output. 503 is also a multiplier, which inputs a 1-bit input signal (A) and an 8-bit input signal (B), and outputs an 8-bit output signal (AXB) as a multiplication result. 504 is an adder, which receives two 8-bit input signals (A,
B), and the addition result is an 8-bit signal (A+B).
) is output.

As a result, in this integrator, the 8-bit output signal y1 for the binary input signal x1 is expressed by the following equation (1). That is,

[0025]

[Equation 1] Here, α and β are constants set in advance, and various characteristics of the integrator 306 are determined by the magnitudes of these values.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating input and output of the integrator 306 according to the first embodiment.

For example, FIG. 9 shows an example of the input and output of this integrator in the case of α=247 and β=8. That is, in response to an input xi-1 as shown in FIG. 9, an output yi as shown in FIG. 10 is output.

Here, inputs such as points 701 and 702 that are "1" even though their surroundings are mostly "0", or points like 703 that are "1" even though their surroundings are "1" An input that is “0” even though it is present is noise.
It is thought that. This is processed by the integrator 306, an appropriate threshold value as shown at point 704 is set in the register 307 in FIG. can be removed.

<Processing Results> FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of processing results according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 9, 801
is a document, and a part of the image includes a specific image 803 that should be determined by this apparatus. This is an output result 802 when this is copied in this apparatus. Specific image 803
The portion corresponding to the specific image 803 is painted black like the invalid portion 804, and the portion corresponding to the specific image 803 cannot be copied normally, that is, in a recognizable manner.

As explained above, the determination circuit 409 of this embodiment detects a specific document and prevents normal copying of that portion, thereby preventing counterfeiting of specific documents such as banknotes. Can be done.

Next, the determination circuit 409 will be specifically explained.

FIG. 1 shows a determination circuit 409 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the main operations of image processing according to the first embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes an image determination board for determining the degree of similarity with the above-mentioned specific original, and 102
indicates the scanner control board. Image judgment board 101
is a circuit section for performing image judgment, and in this embodiment, only this circuit section is constituted as one board. The scanner control board 102 is equipped with the image processing section shown in FIG. 3 described above, but the CCDs 210-1 to 210-3 are excluded. Further, a CPU 103 and its peripheral circuits for controlling the scanner section 201 and the like are mounted on the scanner control board 201. The image judgment board 101 and scanner control board 102 are connected by a connector (not shown).

The image judgment board 101 is the scanner control board 1.
02, the connection recognition signal 108 is “
0". If the image judgment board 101 is not connected, this connection recognition signal 108 becomes "1".

[0035] Here, the operation will be briefly explained.

As the copy start key is pressed, the CPU 103 of the scanner control board 102
Connection recognition signal 108 connected to the input port of 06
By reading the status of the image determination board 101 (step S1), the presence or absence of the image determination board 101 is checked (step S2). If the connection recognition signal 108 is “1”, that is, if it is determined that the image determination board 101 is not connected,
The CPU 103 sets the output port of the I/O port 106 to “0”.
” (step S3). As a result, the image signal V' is gated by the AND gate 107, and its output becomes all 0. At this time, the CPU 103 simultaneously sends the image signal V' to the operation section (not shown) of the image scanner section 201 to copy the image signal V'. An error message such as "Unable to copy" is displayed, and the copy operation is controlled so as not to be performed (step S4).
The error display includes a lighting (or blinking) lamp or a text display on a liquid crystal display. It may also be a voice warning. The connection check of the image judgment board 101 described above is performed every time the copy start key is pressed. Of course, if the image determination board 101 is reliably connected, the operation according to normal recognition of a specific original is executed as described above.

In this way, even if the image judgment board 101 should be removed, this can be detected and copying can be prohibited.

(Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment described above, an example of a copying apparatus consisting of an image scanner section and a printer section was shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, the present invention may be applied to a device equipped with a communication function such as a facsimile machine (hereinafter referred to as "FAX").

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a copying apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the same figure, 1
Reference numeral 101 denotes an image scanner unit having the same configuration and functions as the image scanner unit 201 in FIG.
Reference numeral 2 denotes a printer unit having the same configuration and functions as the printer unit 202 in FIG. 1105 is the determination circuit 4 in FIG.
It is a judgment circuit having the same configuration and function as 09, and 1
103 and 1104 are OR gate circuits having the same configuration and function as 410. 1107 is a connection recognition signal having the same meaning as the connection recognition signal 108 in FIG. 1
106 is a bus selector, and the image scanner section 11
01, the printer unit 1102, and a communication line, and depending on the connection method, image data can be transmitted in the following three ways.
Transfer on the street. In other words, (1) image scanner section - printer section (during copying machine operation), (2) image scanner section - communication line (during FAX transmission operation), and (3) communication line - printer section (during FAX reception operation). be.

Here, by processing the output image of the image scanner section 1101 and the input image of the printer section 1102 using the AND gates 1108 and 1109 based on the judgment result of the connection recognition signal 1107, the board of the judgment circuit 1105 is processed. is removed, copy operation, FA
All X sending operations and FAX receiving operations can be prohibited.

In this way, all output operations including not only copy output but also output to a communication line can be controlled by the connection recognition signal 1107 representing the connection state of the image judgment board. Even if it is removed, output of a specific image of a specific document is automatically prevented, and forgery can be reliably avoided. Note that the board for specific document determination may be a plurality of boards. In that case, at least 1
If one board is removed, the image processing operation may be prohibited. Further, the printer is not limited to a laser beam printer, but may be an inkjet printer or a thermal transfer printer. Furthermore, the method for determining the degree of similarity with a specific document is not limited to the above-mentioned example, but may also use, for example, matching of a predetermined shape pattern.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, counterfeiting can be reliably prevented even when the recognition function of a specific original does not work.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a connection form of a determination circuit 409 according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of a copying apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 Image scanner section 201 according to the first embodiment
FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a determination circuit 409 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of a thinning circuit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of a frequency dividing circuit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an integrator 306 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart of signals in the main scanning direction in the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating input and output of the integrator 306 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating input and output of an integrator 306 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of processing results according to the first example.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the main operations of image processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a copying apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 Image judgment board 102 Scanner control board 103 CPU 104 ROM 105 RAM 106 I/O port 107, 1108 AND gate 108, 1107 Connection recognition signal 210-1 to 210-3 CCD 200 Mirror pressure plate 201, 1101 Image scanner section 202, 11
02 Printer section 203 Platen 204 Original 205 Lamps 206, 207, 208 Mirror 209 Lens 210 3-line sensor 211 Signal processing section 212 Laser driver 213 Semiconductor laser 214 Polygon mirror 215 f-theta lens 216 Mirror 217 Photosensitive drum 218 Rotary developing device 219 Magenta Developing section 220 Cyan developing section 221 Yellow developing section 222 Black developing section 223 Transfer drums 224, 225 Paper cassette 226 Fixing unit 301 Thinning circuit 302, 302' ROM 303-1 to 303-8 Tint judgment circuit 306 Integrator 307 Register 308 Comparator 309 OR circuit 401, 402 Delay 403-405 Log converter 406 Masking/UCR circuit 407 Spatial filter 408 Density conversion circuit 409 Judgment circuit 410, 1103, 1104 OR gate circuit 451
, 453 Inverter 452 2-bit counter 454 AND gates 455-457, 461-466 Flip-flops 501, 505 Flip-flops 458-460 Selectors 502, 503 Multiplier 504 Adder 801 Original 802 Output result 803 Specific original 804 Invalid image 1105 Judgment circuit 1106 bus selector

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. Processing means for electrically processing an input image signal; determining means for determining the degree of similarity between the input image and a specific original from the input image signal; and processing based on the determination result of the determining means. a determining means for determining the processing content of the means;
output means for outputting a processing result of the processing means according to the processing content determined by the determination means, the determination means:
The image processing apparatus further comprises determining the processing content based on a physical state of the determining means. 2. The determining means makes a determination based on the degree of similarity when the determination result of the determining means can be obtained, and determines a predetermined processing content when the determination result of the determining means cannot be obtained. The image processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output means includes print output. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output means includes output to a communication line.