JPH053538A - Image synthesizer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] When the images are combined, the continuity of the density is taken into consideration in all the originals to ensure the sharpness of the image in the combined image processing. A document is optically scanned and read as a plurality of types of color signals, and one or more color signals of the read color signals are stored in the memory 103 for one line or more. After that, the data stored in the memory 103 and the read data other than the stored data are image-synthesized, a synthesis area of the synthesized data is designated, and the image is compared with the designated data. Correction processing such as density correction is executed by the arithmetic unit 601 in the processing unit 102.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention has four delay memories.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image synthesizing apparatus such as a digital copying machine that employs a drum system, and more particularly to an image synthesizing apparatus that obtains an image in which Bk data is sharpened while maintaining continuous gradation of Y, M, C color data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the image synthesizing method of the conventional image synthesizing device, the three color data stored in the memory and the Bk data as the second original are simply superposed and output. However, in this method, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), when both images to be combined have high densities, there is a problem that a high density portion of the images is saturated.

In order to prevent the above-mentioned problem, that is, the saturation of the high density portion, in the prior art, the minimum value of Y, M, C data is detected and compared with Bk data, and Bk data is large. In this case, the Y, M, C, Bk data is output as it is. On the contrary, when the Bk data is small, the Y, M, C data is combined by subtracting Bk or controlling not to output the Bk data. I tried not to hit the extra black by processing.

[0004]

However, the conventional method for preventing the saturation of the high density portion is shown in FIG.
As shown in (d), the Y, M, and C data of the first original is changed by the Bk data of the second original, and there are two kinds of changes, that is, the same or decreased.
The continuity of gradation in the original cannot be maintained, that is,
Since the continuity of the density is not taken into consideration, there is a problem that the image clarity in the synthetic image processing cannot be ensured.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and when the images are combined, the continuity of the densities of all the originals is taken into consideration to ensure the further sharpness of the image in the combined image processing. To aim.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention optically scans a document and reads it as a plurality of types of color signals, and scanning means for scanning each color signal read by the scanning means. A storage unit for storing one or more lines of color signals of one or more colors, a data stored in the storage unit, and a data obtained by the scanning unit other than the data stored in the storage unit are combined. The present invention is to provide an image synthesizing apparatus including a synthesizing unit and a correcting unit that corrects data stored in the storage unit.

Scanning means for optically scanning the original as a plurality of kinds of color signals, and storage means for storing one or more color signals of one or more colors among the color signals read by the scanning means. A synthesizing means for synthesizing the data stored in the storage means and the data obtained by the scanning means other than the data stored in the storage means, and a synthesis area of the data synthesized by the synthesizing means. An image synthesizing apparatus is provided which includes a synthesizing region designating unit that designates the above, and a correcting unit that corrects data stored in the storage unit designated by the synthesizing region designating unit.

Further, it is desirable that the composition area designating unit can execute the entire surface processing, the area processing switching, and the area inside / outside switching.

Further, it is desirable that the correction means is composed of a multiplier.

Further, it is desirable that the correction means halves the density value.

[0011]

In the image synthesizing apparatus according to the present invention, an original is optically scanned and read as a plurality of types of color signals, and one or more color signals of each of the read color signals are stored in one or more lines. . After that, the stored data and the read data other than the stored data are image-synthesized, and the synthesis area of the synthesized data can be designated. Execute the correction process.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an image synthesizing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming system used in an image synthesizing apparatus according to the present invention. R, G, B data is read by a scanner 101 once, and the data is color-corrected and gamma-corrected by an image processing unit 102. , Gradation processing (dithering, etc.), Y,
Convert to M, C, Bk data and print 4 colors simultaneously printer 10
It is configured to send to 4.

Here, the printer 104 is Y, M, C, B.
Since a 4-drum system (see FIG. 2) has a drum for each color k, it is necessary to perform registration of each color data. Therefore, the buffer memory 103 is connected between the image processing unit 102 and the printer 104 to delay the data by the drum interval to perform registration.

Assuming that the distance between the drums is 110 mm, the delay memory 103 has 29 units as shown in FIG.
7 mm (A3 width direction) x (110 mm + 220 mm +
330 mm) = 297 mm × 660 mm, which is the memory capacity. When performing image composition processing, this delay memory 103 is set to 297 mm × 220 mm, A
An image is written as a frame memory for 4: 1, and data is delayed at the time of reading to perform registration adjustment.

Next, the operation of a general color copying machine will be described with reference to FIG. 1 sheet of recording paper from the paper feed tray 202
The sheets are taken out one by one, placed on the conveyor belt 205 and moved in the direction of the arrow.
b, 203c, 203d, at each position Bk,
The C, M, and Y color images are transferred in a superposed manner, and are discharged onto the paper discharge tray 204 through a fixing process. Illustration of the transfer unit and the fixing unit is omitted.

Photoreceptor drums 203a, 203b, 203
c and 203d are exposed by a laser beam of a laser printer (not shown) that shares the printing process of each color of Bk, C, M, and Y, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on each surface. These electrostatic latent images are visualized by Bk, C, M, and Y color toners (developing section is not shown), and are sequentially transferred to the same position on the same recording paper.

The original image is scanned by the scanner 101 into R,
While the G and B primary colors are simultaneously read and the image data of each color are processed in parallel in the image processing unit 102, the C, M, and Y images are delayed by a certain time (recording paper is Allow time to move between adjacent photoconductor drums,
The images are sequentially transferred onto recording paper. In order to rationally execute color matching on the recording paper at the time of transfer processing, as shown in FIG. 3, the memory 103 is provided with buffer memories 301, 302 and 303 for each image data of each color.

Next, an image synthesizing method in the 4-drum type digital color copy will be described. The first original is set on the scanner 101. When you press the start key, scanner 1
The data read from 01 is image-processed and the memory 103 (C memory 301, M) of each of C, M, and Y shown in FIG.
It is stored in the memory 302, the Y memory 303).

Next, the second original is set. here,
Considering the combination of C, M, Y color data and black-and-white data, the second original is Bk data regardless of whether it is a color original or a black-and-white original. When the start key is pressed, only the Bk data is output from the image processing unit 102. At the same time, the data previously written in the memory 103 is output with a delay of the photosensitive drum interval. Here, the drum spacing refers to the spacing between the black photosensitive drum and each color photosensitive drum.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the operation panel according to the present invention. In the figure, 401 is a start key, 40
Reference numeral 2 is a ten-key pad, 403 is a touch panel, and 404 is a display unit for each information. Even in image composition processing, the processing differs depending on whether to process the entire surface or the area.
You can select keys. Reference numeral 405 denotes a whole image processing key for image synthesis on the touch panel 403, and 406 denotes an area processing key for image synthesis.

FIG. 5A shows an output example of the entire surface processing. In the composite image processing, the density of the first original is entirely low, and the Bk density of the second original is not so badly damaged. Also, FIG.
An output example of the area processing is shown in (b). The Bk area of the second original is designated, and the first original density is reduced only in the area in the composite image, and the first original density is set in the non-overlapping portion of the second original. The image density of the original is not damaged.

As the area designating method, one bit of a signal for switching the state inside and outside the area is generated. One example thereof is a method using the area designating circuit described below. This stores the address of the area switching point in the main scanning direction as data, and when writing,
Both addresses are sequence controlled, interrupts can be freely performed regardless of the video and line clocks, and only the video and line clocks are controlled at the time of reading, and the addresses are used for main scanning direction switching and sub scanning direction switching. It is divided into two, and an area designating circuit having a memory capable of processing read data and video data in real time by adding information in the sub-scanning direction at the time of writing is used. By designating a region using the region designating circuit, it is possible to take out an arbitrary closed region from the original image and arbitrarily designate the inside / outside of the region.

The correction operation for reducing the image density is realized by disposing the arithmetic unit 601 in the image processing unit 102. An example is shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C. First, when the memory 103 has 6 bits (without image compression by area gradation or the like), FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6A, the output from the arithmetic unit 601 in the image processing unit 102 shown in FIG. 6C is input to the memory 103. In the case of the whole surface processing, the image data is calculated (multiplied) only in the area and inputted into the memory 103 regardless of the area signal in the case of the area processing.

When the data input to the memory 103 is already image-compressed, the output from the arithmetic unit 601 shown in FIG. 6C is the gradation processing unit 602 in the same image processing unit 102. And the output from the gradation processing unit 602 is input to the memory 103 as shown in FIG.
In the case of the whole surface processing, regardless of the area signal, in the case of the area processing, only the inside of the area is calculated (subtracted) and then the gradation processing is performed, and after the image is compressed, the image data of the first original is input to the memory 103. To be done.

As the arithmetic unit 601 shown in FIG. 6C, a multiplier is used when the density is variable, and the density value is calculated as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. 1 /
In the case of setting to 2, a shift circuit is used instead of the above arithmetic unit.

With the above-mentioned structure, the continuity of the density can be considered in all the originals when the images are combined. Specifically, the composite image of Y, M, C data and Bk data can be made clearer than ever.

[0027]

As described above, in the image synthesizing apparatus according to the present invention, the scanning means for optically scanning the original to read a plurality of kinds of color signals, and the color signals obtained by the scanning means. Storage means for storing color signals of one or more colors for one line or more, data stored in the storage means and data other than the data stored in the storage means out of the data obtained by the scanning means are combined. Since the combination means and the correction means for correcting the data stored in the storage means are provided, the continuity of the density can be considered in all the originals when the images are combined, and further sharpness of the image in the combined image processing is ensured. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image composition system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus that executes an image combining process according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a memory shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation panel of the image synthesizing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an output example in the case of the overall processing and the area processing in the image synthesis processing according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a means for performing a correction operation for lowering the image density.

FIG. 7 shows Y, M, and
6 is a graph showing the relationship between C, Bk and ID (density value).

FIG. 8 is a graph showing a relationship between conventional Y, M, C, Bk and ID (density value).

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 101 scanner 102 image processing unit 103 memory 104 printer 203 photoconductor drum 301 C memory 302 M memory 303 Y memory 601 arithmetic unit 602 gradation processing unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A scanning means for optically scanning an original to read a plurality of types of color signals, and a storage means for storing one or more color signals of one or more colors among the color signals read by the scanning means. A synthesizing means for synthesizing the data stored in the storage means and the data obtained by the scanning means other than the data stored in the storage means, and a correction for correcting the data stored in the storage means An image synthesizing apparatus comprising: 2. A scanning means for optically scanning a document to read a plurality of types of color signals, and a storage means for storing one or more color signals of one or more colors among the color signals read by the scanning means. A synthesizing means for synthesizing the data stored in the storage means and the data obtained by the scanning means other than the data stored in the storage means, and a synthesis area of the data synthesized by the synthesizing means. An image synthesizing apparatus comprising: a synthesizing area designating means for designating the above, and a correcting means for correcting data stored in the storage means designated by the synthesizing area designating means. 3. The image synthesizing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the synthesizing area designating unit is capable of executing the entire surface processing, the area processing switching, and the area inside / outside switching. 4. The image synthesizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the correction means is composed of a multiplier. 5. The image synthesizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the correction unit reduces the density value to 1/2.