JPH11177807A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently set up an image processing condition required by a user by extracting picture data from a 1st storage means plural times, executing image processing by a different condition in each extraction, storing processed data in a 2nd storage means, editing respective processed data stored in the 2nd storage means, and oututting the edited data as a visible image. SOLUTION: At the time of a density adjustment checking mode, an image processing part 3 extracts picture data from an image buffer 2, executes density adjustment by a picture quality adjusting part 3a under one processing condition, adds the processing condition by a character edition part 3c, reduces processed data by an image edition part 3c, and stores the reduced data in a data storage 4. Similar processing is repeated for plural kinds of density adjusting ranges and plural kinds of processed data are stored in the storage 4 in a state arraying these data in an area for one page of a visible image. An image output part 5 outputs the processed data to recording paper as picture data for one page of recording paper to form a visible image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as a digital copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an image processing apparatus such as a digital copying machine, various types of image data obtained from a document image, such as density adjustment, sharpness adjustment (edge enhancement, etc.), saturation adjustment, and hue adjustment, are used. It is widely known to have a function of performing image processing and to output a visible image on a recording sheet after performing image processing by these functions. In such an image processing apparatus, usually, in performing image processing, processing conditions, for example, a degree of shading when performing density adjustment are determined according to a set value input from an operation panel or the like. That is, the user of the image processing apparatus can set the processing conditions of the image processing from the operation panel or the like.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional image processing apparatus, it is necessary to perform image data reading, image processing and output a plurality of times in order to perform image processing desired by a user. That is, the user
Only after comparing the results of image processing under different processing conditions can it be determined which processing condition should be used for image processing. Therefore, when the conventional image processing apparatus is used, much processing time is spent until the user sets the desired image processing conditions. Further, when the processing result is output on a recording sheet, a plurality of recording sheets are required, and as a result, the recording sheet is wasted.

On the other hand, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 65-65, it is also conceivable to reduce image data of a plurality of pages of an original image to one page and output the list on one sheet of recording paper to reduce the number of output sheets of recording paper. Can be However, in this case, image data for a plurality of pages output in a list cannot be subjected to image processing under different processing conditions, and all are output under the same processing conditions. It becomes impossible to become the material which is referred when doing.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention provides one original image from one original image.
Image processing device that can improve the processing efficiency by performing image processing on the image data obtained by reading the image under different processing conditions and visualizing and outputting the result of each image processing. The purpose is to provide.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus devised to achieve the above object, comprising: first storage means for storing image data; and image data stored in the first storage means. A plurality of times, and a processing unit that performs image processing under different conditions each time it is taken out, a second storage unit that stores, as processed data, each image data that the processing unit performs image processing under different conditions, The second
And an output unit for outputting each processed data edited by the editing unit as a visible image. Things.

According to the image processing apparatus having the above configuration, for example, the image data obtained by one reading from one document image is stored in the first storage means. The image data is extracted from the storage means a plurality of times, image processing is performed under different conditions each time the image data is extracted, and the processed data after the image processing is stored in the second storage means. .
Here, the editing unit performs an editing process such as reduction or cutout on each of the processed data. Then, the output unit retrieves each processed data from the second storage unit and outputs each processed data as a visible image. With this, from the output unit, after the image data obtained by one reading from one document image is subjected to the image processing a plurality of times under different processing conditions, the processed data obtained by each image processing is For example, it is output as a visible image in a list format in which the images are arranged.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

As shown in the figure, an image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment has an image input terminal (hereinafter referred to as II).
T) 1, an image buffer 2, and an image processing unit (hereinafter referred to as IPS) 3
, Data storage 4, and an image output unit (Image Output
Terminal; hereinafter, referred to as IOT) 5.

The IIT 1 is composed of a scanner device having a CCD sensor and the like. The IIT 1 reads an original image and outputs R (red), G (green), B
This is to obtain image data composed of each color component of (blue).

The image buffer 2 has a RAM (Random A)
ccess Memory) and IIT1
Temporarily holds the read image data.

The IPS 3 is composed of a microprocessor or the like, and extracts image data from the image buffer 2 and performs image processing on the image data. The image processing performed by the IPS 3 includes, for example, image quality adjustment processing and editing processing. For this purpose, the IPS 3 has an image quality adjusting unit 3a, an image editing unit 3b, and a character editing unit 3c.

The image quality adjustment unit 3a performs, for example, density adjustment,
It performs image quality adjustment processing such as sharpness adjustment, saturation adjustment, and hue adjustment. However, in the image quality adjustment unit 3a, the adjustment width when performing the image quality adjustment processing is predetermined in several steps, and the image quality adjustment is performed in accordance with the adjustment range specified as the processing condition from the several steps of the adjustment width. Processing is performed. For example, in the case of density adjustment, the degree of adjustable shade is 7 from “−3” to “+3”.
The density is adjusted according to the adjustment range designated from among the steps. The image quality adjustment unit 3a determines the processing conditions for performing the image quality adjustment processing in accordance with an instruction from a control unit of an image processing apparatus (not shown) which is a higher-level circuit of the IPS3.

The image editing unit 3b performs an editing process on the image data (hereinafter, referred to as processed data) after the image quality adjusting process by the image quality adjusting unit 3a. In particular,
The image editing unit 3b reduces the processed data or cuts out only a predetermined portion from the processed data, and holds the reduced processed data or the processed data after cutting out in a predetermined area in the data storage 4. It is made to let. The image editing unit 3b determines which area in the data storage 4 is to be held and stored in accordance with an instruction from the control unit of the image processing apparatus, similarly to the image quality adjustment unit 3a.

The character editing unit 3c adds character data to the processed data edited by the image editing unit 3b, and stores font data for outputting character information in advance. And a graphic controller for adding the font data extracted from the font memory to the processed data. The font data added by the character editing unit 3c is for displaying processing conditions when the image quality adjustment unit 3a performs the image quality adjustment processing. For example, in the case of density adjustment, “density-3” to “density + 3” To output seven types of character strings. Note that the character editing unit 3c also determines which font data to add according to an instruction from the control unit of the image processing apparatus.

The data storage 4 is composed of a storage device having a large capacity such as a hard disk device.
3, after the image processing is performed, specifically, the image quality adjustment processing is performed by the image quality adjustment unit 3a.
b, the editing process is performed, and further, the processed data after the font data is added by the character editing unit 3c is held and stored.

The IOT 5 is composed of a printer engine or the like. The IOT 5 retrieves the processed data stored in the data storage 4 from the data storage 4 and converts it into a visible image on a recording sheet and outputs it.

Next, an example of a processing operation in the image processing apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. However, here, a case will be described as an example where the result of the density adjustment is confirmed for the image data read from the document image. In this case, it is assumed that the user has previously specified the density adjustment confirmation mode from the operation panel or the like of the image processing apparatus.

In this image processing apparatus, the IIT 1 reads a document image and reads R and R from the document image.
When the image data composed of the G and B color components is obtained (Step 101, hereinafter, the step is abbreviated as S), the image buffer 2 temporarily holds the image data (S10).
2).

After the image buffer 2 holds the image data, the IPS 3 extracts the image data from the image buffer 2 and performs image processing on the extracted image data. First, the IPS 3 performs gray balance adjustment and negative / positive inversion on the extracted image data as necessary (S103). This is
It may be performed in IIT1 instead of IPS3.

Next, in the IPS 3, the image quality adjusting unit 3a
Is the image data retrieved from the image buffer 2,
That is, image data composed of each of the R, G, and B color components is represented by L
^*a^*b^*(Elstar, Aster, Beestar) Shin
(S104). L ^*a^*b^*Traffic light, color
Represents the phase, saturation, lightness, etc., so-called halftone data
It is called.

When the color system conversion, which is conversion to the L ^* a ^* b ^* signal, is performed, the image quality adjustment unit 3a subsequently specifies the L ^* a ^* b ^* signal because the density adjustment mode is specified. Is adjusted (S105). At this time, the image quality adjustment unit 3a sets one processing condition according to an instruction from the control unit of the image processing apparatus that recognizes that the mode is the density adjustment mode.
That is, one of the seven predetermined adjustment ranges is set.
(For example, “density−3”).

At this time, the character editing unit 3c adds font data for displaying processing conditions of the density adjustment to the L ^* a ^* b ^* signal after the density adjustment (S10).
6). For example, when the image quality adjustment unit 3a has performed the density adjustment in the adjustment range of “density-3”, the character editing unit 3c
Font data for displaying a character string "density-3" is added to the L ^* a ^* b ^* signal.

When the hue adjustment mode or the saturation adjustment mode is designated instead of the density adjustment mode, the image quality adjustment unit 3a performs the same operation as in the case of performing the density adjustment.
At this point, hue adjustment or saturation adjustment for the L ^* a ^* b ^* signal may be performed.

After the density adjustment for the L ^* a ^* b ^* signal is performed, the image quality adjustment unit 3a subsequently controls the adjusted L ^* a ^* b ^*.
The signals are converted into Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), C (cyan) so as to be suitable for color output on recording paper.
The data is converted into K (black) color component data (S107). The color component data also includes font data added by the character editing unit 3c.

When the image quality adjusting unit 3a performs a color conversion process for each of the Y, M, C, and K color components, the image editing unit 3b
Each color component data, that is, the processed data is received and the enlargement / reduction processing is performed (S108). More specifically, the image editing unit 3b reduces the processed data or cuts out only a predetermined portion from the processed data so that a plurality of types of density adjustment results can be edited for one page of the visible image. .

When the image editing unit 3b reduces or cuts out the post-processing data, the image quality adjusting unit 3a then performs a spatial filtering process on the post-reduction or cut-out data after edge reduction or moiré removal. (S10
9) Then, a linear / high gamma process for reversely correcting the nonlinearity is performed (S110). When the sharpness adjustment mode is designated instead of the density adjustment mode, the image quality adjustment unit 3a may perform the sharpness adjustment at the time of the spatial filter processing.

After the spatial filter processing and the linear / high gamma processing are performed by the image quality adjusting unit 3a, the image editing unit 3b sends out the processed data to the data storage 4 for storage and storage (S111). At this time, in accordance with an instruction from the control unit of the image processing apparatus, the image editing unit 3b stores the reduced or cut-out processed data in a predetermined area in the data storage 4. Therefore, in the data storage 4, the processed data after reduction or cutout is stored in a part of the area for one page of the visible image.

When the processed data is stored in a part of the area for one page of the visible image in the data storage 4, next,
According to the control signal instructed from the control unit of the image processing apparatus (S112), the IPS 3 again transmits the
, And the same processing (S103 to S110) as described above is repeated for the image data.
Then, the processed data is held and stored in the data storage 4 (S111).

However, at this time, the image quality adjusting unit 3a sets a processing condition different from that of the density adjustment previously performed, for example, "density-
The density is adjusted in "2." In addition, the image editing unit 3b pastes and stores the processed data in an area of one page of the visible image in the data storage 4 that is different from the previously stored processed data. As a result, in the data storage 4, two types of post-processing data whose density has been adjusted under different processing conditions are stored in a state where they are arranged in a region of one page of the visible image.

Thereafter, the IPS 3 retrieves the image data from the image buffer 2 again and performs the same processing (S103 to S111) on the image data. This process is repeated until all the predetermined seven levels of density adjustment range (from “−3” to “+3”) are completed. Thereby, the data storage 4
In the table, seven types of post-processing data whose density has been adjusted under different processing conditions are stored in a state where they are arranged in a region of one page of the visible image.

When all the seven types of processed data are stored in the data storage 4, the IOT 5 performs output-side gradation correction by the IPS 3, that is, TRC (Tone Reproduction Co.).
rrection) processing (S113), and outputs all the seven types of processed data as image data for one page of recording paper on a recording paper to form a visible image (S11).
4).

As a result of the output by the IOT 5, as shown in FIG. 3, images 11 to 17 corresponding to the seven levels of density adjustment results are formed on the recording paper 10 in an edited and arranged state. You. That is, a list of the seven levels of density adjustment results is output. In addition, in the images 11 to 17 representing the respective density adjustment results, characters indicating the adjustment range (degree of adjustment), specifically, “density-3”
To "density + 3".

As described above, in the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, each time image data is taken out from the image buffer 2, the image quality adjusting unit 3a performs image quality adjustment under different processing conditions, and performs each processing after the image quality adjustment. When the data storage 4 stores and stores the post-data, the image editing unit 3b edits the post-data so as to be included in one page of the visible image. Therefore, if this image processing apparatus is used, image data obtained by one reading from one document image is subjected to image quality adjustment a plurality of times under different processing conditions, and furthermore, image data obtained by each image quality adjustment is obtained. The processed data is output as a list on one sheet of recording paper.

Therefore, in the image processing apparatus of the present embodiment, setting of processing conditions, image output based on the processing conditions, and the like are repeated many times when the user determines which processing condition should be used for image quality adjustment. It does not need to be performed, and a lot of recording paper and processing time are not wasted.
In addition, since images representing the respective image quality adjustment results are output in a list on one sheet of recording paper, it is very easy to make a determination when determining processing conditions. In other words, by using this image processing apparatus, the processing conditions of the image processing desired by the user can be easily and efficiently determined, which is more convenient for the user than before.

The image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment
Since the PS 3 has the character editing unit 3c, the processing conditions of the image quality adjusting process in the image quality adjusting unit 3a are displayed by characters. Therefore, if this image processing apparatus is used, the content of each image quality adjustment result output in a list can be easily and surely understood, which is more convenient for the user.

Further, by checking and comparing the image quality adjustment results output in a list, not only ordinary users but also image processing apparatus maintenance personnel (service engineers and the like) can perform image processing at the time of image processing. It is possible to easily grasp the density level, image quality level, and the like in, so that it is possible to improve the usability by creating an initial setting screen according to the customer's request, to improve the efficiency of image quality adjustment, and the like. .

In this embodiment, the character editing unit 3c
Described the case where font data is added to the processed data as an example, but if the user can judge the content of each image quality adjustment by looking at the output images listed, Need not be added,
In this case, the processing can be further speeded up. Also, even when adding to the post-processing data,
The character editing unit 3c may add not a font data but a specific pattern image, for example, a drawing, a mark, and other drawing data for outputting information corresponding to the image quality adjustment processing in the image quality adjustment unit 3a. . In this case, the character editing unit 3c has a data memory in which drawing data is stored in advance.

In this embodiment, a case has been described in which the results of density adjustment in seven levels are output as a list on one page of recording paper, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is also possible to output each density adjustment result on a plurality of pages of recording paper. Even in this case, it is not necessary to read image data and set processing conditions many times. Thus, the processing efficiency can be improved as compared with the related art. Further, for example, a list of density adjustment results may be output on a screen of a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) device, and even in this case, the same effect as when output on recording paper can be obtained.

In the present embodiment, the case where the result of the density adjustment is confirmed has been mainly described. However, the same processing may be performed when the sharpness adjustment, the saturation adjustment, the hue adjustment, and the like are performed. In addition to these image quality adjustments,
For example, in a case where image processing suitable for each of a character (text) and an image (image) is performed by discriminating between them, a list of adjustment results of TI separation processing judgment criteria for discriminating these or output to image data On the other hand, it is conceivable to output a list of coloring degrees in the case of performing coloring editing.

In this embodiment, the adjustment range of the density adjustment is determined in seven steps in advance, and the case where all the results of the density adjustment in seven steps are output as a list has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Not something. For example, an adjustment range in which the density adjustment result should be output may be specified from the operation panel or the like, and only the density adjustment result of the specified adjustment range may be output in a list. In this case,
It is possible to output a list of only necessary density adjustment results, such as only “density−3”, “density 0”, and “density + 3”, and a reduction in output processing time can be expected.

Further, in the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the IIT 1 reads image data from a document image and then the image buffer 2 temporarily holds the image data (see FIG. 2). S101, S102),
The image buffer 2 may temporarily hold the image buffer 2 at any time before the image quality adjustment processing is performed by the image quality adjustment unit 3a. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, an L ^* a ^* b ^* signal may be temporarily held (see S204 in FIG. 4).

In this embodiment, the image editing unit 3b
Has been described as an example in which the data storage 4 holds and stores the processed data after performing the editing process (FIG. 2).
S108 and S111), the data storage 4
At any stage after the image quality adjustment processing is performed by the image quality adjustment unit 3a, the processed data may be held and stored. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, immediately after the image quality adjusting unit 3a performs the image quality adjusting process, the data storage 4 holds and stores the processed data (S307), and thereafter, the image editing unit 3b performs the editing process. (S310) is also feasible. In this case, the image editing unit 3b edits the processed data for a plurality of pages in the data storage 4 into one page.

[0044]

As described above, the image processing apparatus of the present invention performs image processing a plurality of times under different conditions on image data obtained by reading one document image once. The processed data obtained by each image processing is output as a visible image. Therefore, if this image processing apparatus is used, a user does not spend much processing time or the like in determining under what conditions image processing should be performed. In addition, it becomes easier to determine the conditions based on the respective image processing results output as visible images. In other words, image processing conditions desired by the user can be easily and efficiently determined, which is more convenient for the user than before.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a processing operation in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an output image in the image processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram (part 1) illustrating another example of the processing operation in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram (part 2) illustrating another example of the processing operation in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 image input unit (IIT), 3 image processing unit (IP
S), 3a: image quality adjusting section, 3b: image editing section, 3c: character editing section, 4: data storage, 5: image output section (I
OT)

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 1/46 H04N 1/46 Z

Claims (3)

[Claims] A first storage unit that stores image data; a processing unit that retrieves image data from the first storage unit a plurality of times, and performs image processing under different conditions each time the retrieval is performed; A second storage unit that stores, as processed data, each image data that has been subjected to image processing under different conditions; an editing unit that performs an editing process on each processed data stored in the second storage unit. And an output unit for outputting each processed data after editing by the editing unit as a visible image. 2. A storage unit for storing drawing data for outputting a specific pattern image, and a processing unit that performs image processing on the processed data after the processing unit performs image processing. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an adding unit that extracts drawing data corresponding to a condition from the storage unit and adds the drawing data. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output means outputs a list of the processed data or the processed data to which the drawing data is added.
Or the image processing apparatus according to 2.