JP2018149546A - Vector marking data generation device and image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data generation device which generates data for forming an image on a medium in a vector scan method.SOLUTION: A vector marking data generation device includes a control unit which generates vector marking data that is used by a marking device in a vector scan method from marking object image data. The control unit executes: the first step of detecting an effective pixel in the marking object image data; the second step of performing the contour tracking from the point where the effective pixel is detected and generating the contour vector marking data; and the third step of repeating processing of the first step and the second step to the marking object image data and generating the contour vector marking data for all the effective pixels of the marking object image data. The vector marking data is formed of one or more pieces of the contour vector marking data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  One aspect of the present invention relates to an apparatus for generating vector marking data used in a marking apparatus that forms an image on a medium by a vector scanning method.

  Conventionally, there has been a laser marking apparatus that prints (marks) characters on a medium with a laser or the like using raster scanning. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses such a conventional laser marking device. A rasterized figure is generally marked while being scanned two-dimensionally as a raster image.

JP 2006-255718 A

  However, in the laser marking apparatus using the raster scanning as described above, when marking a line figure or the like having a small number of effective pixels in the marking area, scanning is also performed above the portion where marking is not performed. It took time. On the other hand, in the conventional laser marking using vector scanning, processing such as reading and interpretation of vector format data is necessary, and it is necessary to prepare a marking data generation function from vector data.

  The present invention adopts the following means in order to solve the above problems. In the following description, in order to facilitate understanding of the invention, reference numerals and the like in the drawings are appended in parentheses, but each component of the present invention is not limited to these appendices. It should be construed broadly to the extent that contractors can technically understand.

One means of the present invention is to
A vector marking data generation device including a control unit that generates vector marking data used in a marking device of a vector scanning method from marking target image data,
The control unit (20)
A first step (S140) for detecting effective pixels in the marking target image data;
A second step (S150 to S152) of performing contour tracking from the point where the effective pixel is detected and generating contour vector marking data;
A third step of generating contour vector marking data for all effective pixels of the marking target image data by repeating the processing of the first step and the second step for the marking target image data (S140 to S160). And run
The vector marking data comprises one or more contour vector marking data,
This is a vector marking data generation device.

Another means of the present invention is:
An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a medium by a vector scanning method using a marking unit using vector marking data including one or more contour vector marking data,
The marking part (21)
A first step of forming an image on the medium based on one contour vector marking data;
A second step of repeating the process of the first step based on the contour vector marking data following the one contour vector marking data until marking is completed for all the contour vector marking data included in the vector marking data; Run,
An image forming apparatus.

  According to the image forming apparatus using the vector marking data generating apparatus or the image forming apparatus, marking is performed while performing effective one-dimensional operation by tracking effective pixels of a graphic held in a raster image format. Thus, it is possible to shorten the marking time as compared to the case of two-dimensional scanning in the raster format. In particular, in the case of a line figure having a small number of marking pixels with respect to the entire area of the marking target image, marking can be completed in a shorter time. Furthermore, marking can be performed in a particularly short time in a hollow text generated with an outline font. Further, even if the configuration does not have the function of reading and interpreting vector format data and the function of generating vector format marking data, it is possible to perform vector marking of line figures.

FIG. 1 is a configuration example of the laser marking system of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing vector marking data generation processing of the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation of generating vector marking data according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation of generating vector marking data according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation of generating vector marking data according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation of generating vector marking data according to the present embodiment.

An embodiment according to the present invention will be specifically described according to the following configuration with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment described below is merely an example of the present invention and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, in each drawing, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same component and the description may be abbreviate | omitted.
1. Embodiment (1) Configuration Example of Laser Marking System (2) Operation Example Supplementary matter

<1. Embodiment>
One of the features of the image processing apparatus of the present embodiment is that data for vector marking (vector marking data) is generated from image data to be marked indicated by a set of pixels. It is characterized in that contour vector marking data for forming a contour line is generated. Hereinafter, the laser marking system of the present embodiment will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, it may be described as “vector marking” or “vector scanning”. However, this does not indicate only conventional vector scanning, but a marking process similar to the vector scanning described in this embodiment. It is what you point to.

<(1) Configuration example of laser marking system>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the laser marking system of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the laser marking system includes a PC 1 and a laser marker 2. In the present embodiment, the PC 1 is an example of a vector marking data generation device, and the laser marker 2 is an example of an image forming device.

<PC1>
As shown in FIG. 1, the PC 1 includes a control unit 10. In addition to the control unit 10, the PC 1 may include a configuration such as an input device that accepts an operation by a user, and a memory that stores data.

<Control unit 10>
The control unit 10 executes processing for generating vector marking data used by the laser marker 2 from predetermined marking target image data based on an operation by the user. The image data to be marked is received from the outside by the control unit 10 via, for example, wired communication or wireless communication. A specific operation example of vector marking data generation executed by the control unit 10 will be described later.

<Laser marker 2>
The laser marker 2 is configured to execute a process of forming an image (including a character string and a symbol) on the medium 3 with a laser. The laser marker 2 includes a control unit 20 and a marking unit 21.

<Control unit 20>
The control unit 20 operates the marking unit 21 based on the vector marking data received from the PC 1 to form an image on the medium 3 such as a card. Since the data received by the control unit 20 is vector marking data generated based on the data of the marking target image to be formed on the medium 3, the control unit 20 performs the marking without performing special processing based on this data. The unit 21 will be controlled.

<Marking part 21>
As shown in FIG. 1, the marking unit 21 includes a laser engine 211, a galvanometer mirror 212, and a lens 213. The vector marking data processed by the control unit 20 is data suitable for the marking unit 21 to perform laser marking on the medium 3 by vector scanning. Therefore, the marking unit 21 operates by normal processing. Is possible.

<Laser engine 211>
The laser engine 211 is configured to be able to output a laser, and outputs and stops the laser at a predetermined timing in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 20.

<Galbano mirror 212>
The galvanometer mirror 212 controls the reflection direction of the laser output from the laser engine 211 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 20 and operates to irradiate a desired position on the medium 3 via the lens 213.

<Lens 213>
The lens 213 functions as a lens that condenses the laser light reflected by the galvanometer mirror 212.

<Medium 3>
The medium 3 is a medium on which an image is formed by the laser marker 2, and is formed of various materials that can be marked with a laser, such as a plastic card.

<(2) Example of operation>
Next, generation processing of vector marking data in the PC 1 of the laser marking system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing vector marking data generation processing, and FIGS. 3 to 6 are diagrams for explaining the concept of data processing at this time. The image data processed here is either a black part (black pixel) where marking is performed by laser irradiation or a part where laser irradiation is not performed (sometimes called a white part) for each coordinate. Is set.

<S100 to S110>
When laser marking on the medium 3 is started by the user (S100), the control unit 10 of the PC 1 acquires raster image data (image data) to be marked designated by the user (S110). Proceed with conversion to vector marking data to be used. The generation of vector marking data is not necessarily performed immediately before the laser marking process, and may be performed prior to marking.

<S120>
The control unit 10 performs a process of dividing the marking target image data into a plurality of BLOBs (for example, images in units of characters) (S120). FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the entire character “Data” that is the marking target image data, and FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the divided BLOB. As shown in FIG. 4, one BLOB is processed by the control unit 10 so that one character corresponds. Note that one character does not necessarily correspond to one BLOB, and one character may correspond to a plurality of BLOBs.

<S130>
Next, the control unit 10 selects the first BLOB to be processed first (S130). That is, in this embodiment, “D”, which is the first BLOB of the character “Data”, is selected. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the character “D”, which is the first BLOB, selected here.

<S140 to S150>
Next, the control unit 10 performs a process of searching for an effective pixel in the first BLOB (S140). Specifically, the control unit 10 checks whether or not there is a black pixel (effective pixel) to be marked while scanning the top BLOB in order from the upper left pixel in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction (S150).

<S151 to S153>
When an effective pixel is detected (Y in S150), the control unit 10 performs contour tracking for one round starting from the first effective pixel detected (S151). A conventionally known method is adopted for the contour tracking. The control unit 10 converts the extracted points extracted by the contour tracking based on the contour tracking for one round into the marking data by generating contour vector marking data including a set of effective pixels (S152). Further, the control unit 10 converts the extracted point portion corresponding to the contour vector marking data to invalid pixels for the selected BLOB (S153). By this invalid pixel conversion processing, the effective pixels are gradually reduced so that the image data of the selected BLOB becomes (a) → (b) → (c) → (d) → (e).

  When the contour vector marking data based on the contour tracking for one round is generated by the above processing, the processing returns to S140 and the next contour tracking processing is performed.

<S160>
The control unit 10 repeats the generation of the contour vector marking data (S151 to S153) from the search for the effective pixel (S140), and when no effective pixel is detected (N in S150), the current selected BLOB is the final BLOB. It is determined whether or not (S160)

<S161>
If the selected BLOB is not the final BLOB (N in S160), the control unit 10 selects the next BLOB in order to perform contour vector marking data generation processing for the BLOB to be processed next (S161). Specifically, when the processing for the character “D” is completed, “a” which is the BLOB to be processed next is selected. If the next BLOB is selected, the process returns to the process of S140 and the process from the effective pixel search is repeated.

<S170>
On the other hand, if the selected BLOB is the final BLOB (Y in S160), the control unit 10 ends the vector marking data generation process (S170).

  With the above processing, the vector marking data generation processing is completed. The vector marking data is composed of one or more contour vector marking data. Specifically, the vector marking data corresponding to the character “D” is a set of a plurality of vector marking data indicating the outline of the character “D”.

  If the vector marking system of this embodiment is adopted, it is possible to perform marking while performing effective one-dimensional operation by tracking effective pixels of a graphic held in a raster image format. For this reason, it is possible to shorten the marking time as compared with the case of two-dimensional scanning in the raster format. In particular, in the case of a line figure having a small number of marking pixels with respect to the entire area of the marking target image, the marking can be completed in a shorter time. Furthermore, marking can be performed in a short time, particularly with hollow text generated with an outline font. Further, even if the configuration does not have the function of reading and interpreting vector format data and the function of generating vector format marking data, it is possible to perform vector marking of line figures.

<2. Supplementary items>
The specific description of the embodiment of the present invention has been given above. The above description is merely an embodiment, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, but should be broadly interpreted to the extent that a person skilled in the art can grasp.

  In the above embodiment, the apparatus for performing laser marking on the medium 3 by the laser marker 2 using the galvanometer mirror 212 and the lens 213 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the vector marking data was produced | generated by the control part 10 of PC1, this process may be performed by the control part 20 of the laser marker 2. FIG. However, since the vector marking data generation process requires a relatively large number of calculation processes, the vector marking data generation process is more preferably performed by the PC 1 having a high calculation processing capability.

  The present invention is suitably applied to, for example, a data generation apparatus used for an apparatus that performs laser marking on a medium by vector scanning.

1 ... PC
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Control part 2 ... Laser marker 20 ... Control part 21 ... Marking part 211 ... Laser engine 212 ... Galvano mirror 213 ... Lens 3 ... Medium

Claims (2)

A vector marking data generation device including a control unit that generates vector marking data used in a marking device of a vector scanning method from marking target image data,
The controller is
A first step of detecting effective pixels in the marking target image data;
A second step of performing contour tracking from the point where the effective pixel is detected and generating contour vector marking data;
Executing the third step of generating contour vector marking data for all effective pixels of the marking target image data by repeating the processing of the first step and the second step for the marking target image data. ,
The vector marking data comprises one or more contour vector marking data,
Vector marking data generator. An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a medium by a vector scanning method using a marking unit using vector marking data including one or more contour vector marking data,
The marking part is
A first step of forming an image on the medium based on one contour vector marking data;
A second step of repeating the process of the first step based on the contour vector marking data following the one contour vector marking data until marking is completed for all the contour vector marking data included in the vector marking data; Run,
Image forming apparatus.

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