JP2002109526A - Image processor and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily improve the quality of image data, and to efficiently process the image with reference to an extensive image area difficult to be realized by an SIMD type image processor IPP which is a programmable operating means. SOLUTION: These image processor and image forming apparatus comprise a means IPP for processing image data given by an image inputting means 200, a FCU and a PC, a bus control CDIC for collectively controlling transmission/reception of image data of the data bus to be IPP, a memory MEM, and a memory control IMAC for collectively controlling transmission/ reception of image data of the data bus to the memory. The memory control IMAC accumulates image data in the memory MEM, and performs separate image processing from image processing performed by the processing means IPP, for example, edge extraction, calculation of average values, and detection of pattern matching or frequency components.

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 for processing digitally generated image information, that is, image data, so as to represent a high-quality image. An image reading device that processes the generated image data so as to represent a high-quality image, and a printer combined with the image processing device or the image reading device, and an image represented by the image data processed by the image processing device is printed on paper. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming. These are implemented in, for example, a document scanner, facsimile, image printer, or digital copying machine.

More specifically, the present invention provides a SIMD (Single Instrument) by temporarily storing image data in a memory device and performing image processing on the stored image data.
ction stream Multi-Data stream) image processing that cannot be realized or is difficult to realize using an arithmetic processing unit using an image processing arithmetic processor, for example, edge extraction by referring to a wide image range, pattern matching, frequency analysis, and The average value of the wide image range is calculated by the memory access control unit that can refer to the wide image range, and the SIMD
The present invention relates to efficient image processing for assisting image processing in a type image processing arithmetic processor.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a pre-processing of image processing, a programmable image processing LSI (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-50651) capable of performing feature extraction and pattern matching has been invented. Thus, both preprocessing (feature extraction) for image processing and image processing based on the feature amount can be performed.

[0004]

However, in order to enhance the reliability of feature extraction and / or to further enhance the quality of image processing, feature amount extraction and pattern extraction are performed by referring to image data over a wide range. It is desirable to perform matching, and if this is to be performed, it is necessary to secure a large memory capacity for image processing on the image processing arithmetic processor.

In an MFP (a multifunction device having various functions such as copying, facsimile, printer, and scanner), an image processing LSI
In addition to the memory for I, a relatively large-capacity memory device is provided for use in copying multiple copies, etc., and image data for one document or more is stored. While the image data is stored in the device, it is possible to refer to the image over a wide range.

A first object of the present invention is to improve the quality of image data, and a second object of the present invention is to facilitate high quality processing by an arithmetic processing means. More specifically,
A third object is to realize image processing by referring to a wide range of image areas that cannot be realized or is difficult to be performed by a programmable operation processing means mainly including a SIMD type image processing operation processor. It is a fourth object of the present invention to efficiently execute the image processing by a type image processing arithmetic processor. A fifth object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus which stores image data which can be easily processed for quality improvement in a memory device, and prints out the image data stored in the memory device after quality processing is performed. The sixth object is to provide

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems (1) Programmable processing means (IPP) for processing image data provided by image data input means (200, FCU, PC); Data bus for the processing means (IPP) Image bus management means (CDIC) for collectively managing image data transmission and reception; memory device (MEM); and memory management means (IMAC) for collectively managing image data transmission and reception of the data bus with respect to the memory device (MEM) With;
The memory management means (IMAC) accumulates image data in the memory device (MEM) and performs image processing different from the image processing performed by the arithmetic processing means (IPP) on the accumulated image data. An image processing apparatus;

For easy understanding, reference numerals or corresponding items of the corresponding elements of the embodiment shown in the drawings and described later are additionally provided in the parentheses for reference. The same applies to the following.

According to this image processing apparatus, the image data stored in the memory device (MEM) connected to the memory management means (IMAC) is sequentially taken out by the memory management means (IMAC), and the feature amount extraction, pattern matching, etc. The image processing result is added to the image data, the image data is stored again in the memory device (MEM), and when all the image processing by the memory management means (IMAC) is completed, that is, the memory management means ( IMA
Image data to which the result of the image processing performed in C) is added,
When all the data are arranged on the memory device (MEM), the image data is sent to the arithmetic processing means (IPP) via the image bus management means (CDIC), and is added to the image data in the arithmetic processing means (IPP). It is possible to perform image processing using the image processing result of the existing memory management means (IMAC) as a feature amount of the image, or to switch the image processing method.

[0010] The programmable arithmetic processing means (IPP) performs image processing with reference to a wide range of image areas, which is impossible or difficult to realize, and the image data is stored in a memory device (M
EM), while performing access to the memory device (MEM) in the integrated management means (IMAC), and assisting the image processing in the arithmetic processing means (IPP), for example, a SIMD type image processing arithmetic processor, Efficient image processing can be realized.

[0011]

(2) The memory management means (IMAC)
The other image processing is an image edge extraction processing, and when the memory management means (IMAC) sends the image data to the arithmetic processing means (IPP), the edge extraction result is added to the image data and sent. The arithmetic processing means (IPP) processes the image data using the edge extraction result as a feature amount.

[0012] According to this, in the memory management means (IMAC) for collectively managing access to the memory device (MEM), edge extraction processing is performed on image data stored in the memory device (MEM). By enabling the edge extraction processing with reference to the image over a wide range, the calculation result is sent together with the image data to a calculation processing means (IPP), for example, a SIMD-type image processing processor, so that the SIMD-type image processing Image processing can be made more effective and efficient.

(3) The another image processing of the memory management means (IMAC) is an average value calculation of the image data of the target pixel and the peripheral pixels, and the memory management means (IMAC) is the arithmetic processing means (IPP). ), The average calculation result is added to the image data and sent; the arithmetic processing means (IPP)
Processes image data using the average calculation result as a feature amount.

According to this, in the means (IMAC) for collectively managing access to the memory device (MEM), the memory device (M
The average value of peripheral pixels including the pixel of interest is calculated for the image data accumulated in (EM), so that the average value can be calculated for a wide range of image data. (IPP) For example, by sending the image data to the SIMD image processing processor, the image processing in the SIMD image processing processor can be made more effective and efficient.

(4) The another image processing of the memory management means (IMAC) is a pattern matching processing, and the memory management means (IMAC) performs pattern matching when sending image data to the arithmetic processing means (IPP). The arithmetic processing means (IPP) processes the image data by using the pattern matching result as a feature amount.

According to this, in the means (IMAC) for collectively managing access to the memory device (MEM), the memory device (M
EM) by performing a pattern matching process on the image data stored therein, thereby enabling pattern matching with reference to a wide range of image data. By sending the image data to the SIMD-type image processing processor, image processing in the SIMD-type image processing processor can be made more effective and efficient.

(5) The another image processing of the memory management means (IMAC) is a frequency analysis processing of image data,
The memory management means (IMAC) adds the frequency analysis result to the image data when sending the image data to the arithmetic processing means (IPP) and sends the image data; the arithmetic processing means (IPP) uses the frequency analysis result as a feature amount. Process the image data.

According to this, in the means (IMAC) for collectively managing access to the memory device (MEM), the memory device (M
By performing frequency analysis processing on the image data stored in the (EM), it is possible to perform frequency analysis processing with reference to a wide range of image data, and the operation results together with the image data are processed by operation processing means (IPP). For example, by sending the image data to the SIMD image processing processor, the image processing in the SIMD image processing processor can be made more effective and efficient.

(6) The above (1), (2), (3),
(4) An image forming apparatus comprising: the image processing apparatus according to (5); and a printer (400) that forms an image represented by the image data processed by the arithmetic processing unit (IPP) on a sheet.

According to this, the image data of high image quality can be printed out on paper.

(7) The above (1), (2), (3),
An image processing device according to (4) or (5); and an image reading device (200) for reading an image, converting the image into digitized image data, and providing the image data to the image processing device. (CDIC) is an image reading apparatus that collectively manages the image reading means (200) and image data transmission / reception of the data bus with respect to the arithmetic processing means (IPP).

According to this, the image data obtained by the image reading means (200) is read and corrected by the arithmetic processing means (IPP), then stored in the memory device (MEM), and stored in the memory device (MEM). The image data obtained is sequentially retrieved by the memory management means (IMAC), and image processing such as feature extraction and pattern matching is performed. The image processing result is added to the image data and stored in the memory device (MEM) again. it can.

(8) An image forming apparatus comprising: the image reading device according to (7); and a printer (400) for forming, on a sheet, an image represented by the image data processed by the arithmetic processing means (IPP). . According to this, the image data obtained by the image reading device can be printed out on a high-quality paper.

(9) The processing means (IPP) of the above (2)
Performs edge enhancement filter processing on edge area image data and smoothing filter processing on non-edge area image data using the edge extraction result as a feature amount (15a in FIG. 3). As a result, the character image is clearly displayed, and the density change of the halftone image is smoothly displayed.

(10) The arithmetic processing means (IPP) of (3) above
Performs filter processing for emphasizing shading on high-density image data and filtering processing for smoothing shading changes on low-density image data (15c in FIG. 12). ). Thereby, the contrast of the high density portion is high, and the density change of the low density portion is smoothly displayed.

(11) The arithmetic processing means (IPP) of the above (4)
Replaces the image data of the isolated point in the area matching the isolated point pattern with the surrounding image data using the pattern matching result as a feature amount (15d in FIG. 15). As a result, isolated points (noise) on the image disappear.

(12) The arithmetic processing means (IPP) of the above (5)
Performs a filtering process on the image data to improve the image quality of the main frequency component using the frequency analysis result as a feature amount (15e in FIG. 17). The main components of the image are clearly represented.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0029]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment FIG. 1 shows an outline of a mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is a digital full-color copying machine. A color image reading device (hereinafter, referred to as a scanner) 200 converts an image of a document 180 on a contact glass 202 into an illumination lamp 2.
05, a mirror group 204A, 204B, 204C, etc., and an image on the color sensor 207 via the lens 206, and color image information of the original is converted into, for example, blue (hereinafter, referred to as blue).
B), green (hereinafter, referred to as G), and red (hereinafter, referred to as R) are read for each color separation light and converted into an electric image signal. In this example, the color sensor 207 is configured by a 3-line CCD sensor, and B, G,
The R image is read for each color. B obtained by the scanner 200,
Based on the G and R color separation image signal intensity levels, a color conversion process is performed by an image processing unit (not shown), and black (hereinafter, referred to as Bk), cyan (hereinafter, referred to as C), and magenta (hereinafter, referred to as C). , M) and color image data including the recording color information of yellow (hereinafter, referred to as Y).

Using the color image data, a color image recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a color printer) 4 described below
00, the images of Bk, C, M, and Y are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt and transferred to a transfer sheet. The scanner 200 receives the scanner start signal at the same timing as the operation of the color printer 400, and
Illumination / mirror optical system including mirror group 05, mirror group 204A, 204B, 204C, etc.
Image data of one color is obtained for each scan. Then, each time, while visualizing the images sequentially with the color printer 400, these are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt to form four full-color images.

A writing optical unit 401 as exposure means of the color printer 400 converts color image data from the scanner 200 into an optical signal, performs optical writing corresponding to a document image, and applies an electrostatic charge to the photosensitive drum 414. Form a latent image. The optical writing optical unit 401 includes a laser light emitter 441, a light emission drive control unit (not shown) for driving the light emission, a polygon mirror 443, a rotation motor 444 for rotating the same, a fθ lens 442, a reflection mirror 446, and the like. Have been. Photoconductor drum 414
Rotates in the counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow, around which is a photoconductor cleaning unit 421, a neutralization lamp 414M, a charger 419, a potential sensor 414D for detecting a latent image potential on the photoconductor drum, A selected developing device of the revolver developing device 420, a development density pattern detector 414P, an intermediate transfer belt 415, and the like are arranged.

The revolver developing device 420 includes a BK developing device 420K, a C developing device 420C, an M developing device 420M, and a Y developing device 420Y. (Not shown). In order to visualize the electrostatic latent image, each of these developing devices rotates developing sleeves 420 KS and 420 which rotate by contacting the ears of the developer with the surface of the photosensitive drum 414.
Assemble the developer with CS, 420MS, 420YS
It is composed of a developing paddle that rotates for stirring. In a standby state, the revolver developing device 420 is set at a position where development is performed by the BK developing device 420, and when a copying operation is started, reading of BK image data is started by the scanner 200 at a predetermined timing, and this image is read. On the basis of the data, optical writing / latent image formation by laser light starts. Hereinafter, the electrostatic latent image based on the Bk image data is referred to as a Bk latent image. The same applies to each of the C, M, and Y image data. In order to enable development from the tip of this Bk latent image,
Before the leading end of the latent image reaches the developing position of the Bk developing device 420K, the rotation of the developing sleeve 420KS is started to develop the Bk latent image with Bk toner. Thereafter, the developing operation of the Bk latent image area is continued. When the rear end of the latent image passes the Bk latent image position, the developing operation of the next color developing unit is immediately performed from the developing position of the Bk developing unit 420K. The revolver developing device 420 is driven and rotated to the position. This rotation operation is completed at least before the leading end of the latent image based on the next image data arrives.

When the image forming cycle is started, the photosensitive drum 414 rotates counterclockwise as indicated by an arrow, and the intermediate transfer belt 415 is rotated clockwise by a drive motor (not shown). Move. Intermediate transfer belt 41
5, the BK toner image formation, the C toner image formation, the M toner image formation, and the Y toner image formation are sequentially performed, and finally, on the intermediate transfer belt 415 in the order of BK, C, M, and Y. , A toner image is formed. The formation of the BK image is performed as follows. That is, the charger 41
9 uniformly charges the photosensitive drum 414 with a negative charge to about -700 V by corona discharge. Subsequently, the laser diode 441 performs raster exposure based on the Bk signal. When the raster image is exposed in this manner, in the initially exposed portion of the photosensitive drum 414 that is uniformly charged, the charge proportional to the amount of exposure light disappears, and an electrostatic latent image is formed. The toner in the revolver developing device 420 is negatively charged by stirring with the ferrite carrier, and the BK developing sleeve 420KS of the present developing device is charged.
Is biased by a power supply circuit (not shown) with respect to the metal base layer of the photosensitive drum 414 to a potential at which a negative DC potential and an AC are superimposed. As a result, no toner adheres to the portion of the photosensitive drum 414 where the charge remains, and Bk is applied to the portion having no charge, that is, the exposed portion.
The toner is attracted, and a Bk visible image similar to the latent image is formed. The intermediate transfer belt 415 includes a driving roller 415D, a transfer facing roller 415T, and a cleaning facing roller 415.
C and a group of driven rollers, and is driven to rotate by a drive motor (not shown). Now, the photosensitive drum 4
The Bk toner image formed on the belt 14 is transferred onto a surface of an intermediate transfer belt 415, which is driven at a constant speed in a state of contact with the photoconductor, by a belt transfer corona discharger (hereinafter, referred to as a belt transfer unit) 4.
16 transferred. Hereinafter, the transfer of the toner image from the photosensitive drum 414 to the intermediate transfer belt 415 is referred to as belt transfer. Some untransferred residual toner on the photoconductor drum 414 is cleaned by the photoconductor cleaning unit 421 in preparation for reuse of the photoconductor drum 414. The collected toner is stored in a waste toner tank (not shown) via a collection pipe.

On the intermediate transfer belt 415, the Bk, C, M, and Y toner images, which are sequentially formed on the photosensitive drum 414, are sequentially aligned on the same surface, and a four-color superposed belt transfer image is formed. After that, batch transfer is performed on transfer paper by a corona discharge transfer device. By the way, the photosensitive drum 41
On the fourth side, the process proceeds to the C image forming process after the BK image forming process.
Starts reading of C image data, and a C latent image is formed by laser light writing using the image data.
The C developing device 420C moves the Bk
After the rear end portion of the latent image has passed and before the leading end of the C latent image has arrived, the rotating operation of the revolver developing device is performed to develop the C latent image with C toner. Thereafter, the development of the C latent image area is continued. When the rear end of the latent image has passed, the revolver developing device 420 is driven in the same manner as in the case of the Bk developing device described above,
C developing device 420C is sent out, and the next M developing device 420M
Is located at the developing position. This operation is also the next M
This is performed before the leading end of the latent image reaches the developing section. In the process of forming the M and Y images, the operations of reading the image data, forming the latent image, and developing are in accordance with the processes of the Bk image and the C image described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

The belt cleaning device 415U includes an inlet seal, a rubber blade, a discharge coil, and a mechanism for contacting and separating the inlet seal and the rubber blade. 1
After the Bk image of the color is transferred to the belt, while the images of the second, third, and fourth colors are transferred to the belt, the entrance seal, the rubber blade, and the like are separated from the intermediate transfer belt surface by the blade contact / separation mechanism. .

A paper transfer corona discharger (hereinafter, referred to as a paper transfer device) 417 uses an AC corona discharge method to transfer the superposed toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 415 to transfer paper.
+ DC or a DC component is applied to the transfer paper and the intermediate transfer belt.

The transfer paper cassette 482 in the paper supply bank stores transfer papers of various sizes.
The sheet is fed and conveyed in the direction of the pair of registration rollers 418R by 83. Reference numeral 412B2 indicates a paper feed tray for manually feeding OHP paper, thick paper, and the like. At the time when the image formation is started, the transfer paper is fed from any of the paper feed trays, and is waiting at the nip of the pair of registration rollers 418R. Then, when the leading end of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 415 approaches the paper transfer unit 417, the registration roller pair 418R is driven so that the leading end of the transfer paper coincides with the leading end of the image, and the paper and the image are transferred. Matching is performed. In this way, the transfer paper is superimposed on the color superimposed image on the intermediate transfer belt, and passes over the paper transfer unit 417 connected to the positive potential. At this time, the transfer paper is charged with a positive charge by the corona discharge current, and most of the toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper. Subsequently, when the transfer paper passes through a separation neutralizer with a neutralization brush (not shown) disposed on the left side of the paper transfer unit 417, the transfer paper is neutralized, and the intermediate transfer belt 415 is removed.
From the paper transport belt 422. The transfer paper on which the four-color superimposed toner image has been collectively transferred from the intermediate transfer belt surface is conveyed to a fixing device 423 by a paper conveyance belt 422, and the toner is conveyed to a nip portion between a fixing roller 423A and a pressure roller 423B controlled to a predetermined temperature. The image is fused and fixed
The paper is sent out of the main body by the discharge roll pair 424, and is stacked face up on a copy tray (not shown).

The photosensitive drum 414 after belt transfer
Has its surface cleaned by a photoconductor cleaning unit 421 including a brush roller, a rubber blade, and the like.
Further, the charge is uniformly removed by the charge removing lamp 414M. Further, the intermediate transfer belt 415 after transferring the toner image to the transfer paper
Again, the blade is pressed by the blade contact / separation mechanism of the cleaning unit 415U to clean the surface.
In the case of the repeat copy, the operation of the scanner and the image formation on the photoconductor are continued from the first-color image process on the first sheet, and then proceed to the first-color image process on the second sheet at a predetermined timing. In the case of the intermediate transfer belt 415, the second Bk toner image is belt-transferred to an area whose surface has been cleaned by the belt cleaning device, following the batch transfer process of the first four-color superimposed image onto transfer paper. So that Thereafter, the operation is the same as that of the first sheet.

The color copying machine shown in FIG. 1 is provided from a host such as a personal computer via a LAN or a parallel I / F.
When a print data is provided through the printer, the print data can be printed out (image output) by the color printer 400, and the image data read by the scanner 200 can be transmitted to a remote facsimile, and the received image data can be printed out. It is a color copier. This copier is connected to a public telephone network via a private branch exchange PBX,
Via a public telephone network, facsimile communication and communication with a management server of a service center can be performed.

FIG. 2 shows an electric system of the copying machine shown in FIG. Document scanner 200 for optically reading a document
In the reading unit 4, the reflected light of the lamp irradiation on the document is condensed on the light receiving element 207 by a mirror and a lens in the reading unit 4. The light receiving element (CCD in this embodiment) is provided in a sensor board unit SBU (hereinafter simply referred to as SBU), and an image signal converted into an electric signal in the CCD is a digital signal on the SBU, ie, a read image. After the data is converted to data, the SBU converts the data from the compression / decompression and data interface control unit CDIC (hereinafter simply referred to as CDIC).
).

That is, the image data output from the SBU is input to the CDIC. The transmission of image data between the functional device and the data bus is entirely controlled by the CDIC. In other words, the CDIC uses the SB
U, the parallel bus Pb, and data transfer between the image signal processing device IPP (hereinafter simply referred to as IPP), and image data transfer between the system controller 6 which controls the entire digital copying machine shown in FIG. And communication regarding other controls. The system controller 6 and the process controller 1 communicate with each other via the parallel bus Pb, the CDIC, and the serial bus Sb. The CDIC performs data format conversion for a data interface between the parallel bus Pb and the serial bus Sb inside the CDIC.

The read image data from the SBU is CDI
C, the signal is transferred to the IPP, and the IPP corrects the signal deterioration (signal deterioration of the scanner system: distortion of the read image data due to the scanner characteristics) due to the quantization into the optical system and the digital signal. Output to CDIC is
The image data is transferred to the copy function controller MFC and written in the memory MEM. Alternatively, the processing returns to the IPP processing system for printer output.

That is, the CDIC stores the read image data.
A job in which the data is stored in the memory MEM for reuse, and a job in which the data is output to the video data control VDC (hereinafter simply referred to as VDC) without being stored in the memory MEM.
There is a job that performs image formation output at 0. As an example of storing the data in the memory MEM, when a plurality of originals are copied, the reading unit 4 is operated only once to read the read image data.
Data is stored in the memory MEM, and the stored data is read a plurality of times. As an example without using the memory MEM,
When copying only one original, it is only necessary to process the read image data as it is for the printer output, and there is no need to write the data in the memory MEM.

First, when the memory MEM is not used, the IP
The image data transferred from P to CDIC is
C returns to IPP. Image quality processing (FIG. 3) for converting luminance data by CCD into area gradation in IPP
15) is performed. The image data after the image quality processing is transferred from the IPP to the VDC. For the signal changed to the area gradation,
Post-processing relating to dot arrangement and pulse control for reproducing dots are performed by VDC, and a reproduced image is formed on transfer paper in the image forming unit 5 of the laser printer 400.

When the data is stored in the memory MEM and additional processing such as image direction rotation and image synthesis is performed when reading out the data, the data transferred from the IPP to the CDIC passes through the parallel bus Pb from the CDIC. And transmitted to an image memory access control IMAC (hereinafter simply referred to as IMAC). Here, access control of the image data and the memory module MEM (hereinafter simply referred to as MEM) is performed based on the control of the system controller 6, and an external personal computer PC
It expands print data (hereinafter simply referred to as PC) (character code / character bit conversion) and compresses / decompresses image data for effective use of memory. The data sent to the IMAC is stored in the MEM after data compression, and the stored data is read as necessary. The read data is expanded, returned to the original image data, and returned from the IMAC to the CDIC via the parallel bus Pb.

After the transfer from the CDIC to the IPP, the IPP
The image forming unit 5 performs the image processing and the pulse control with the VDC, and the image forming unit 5 forms a visible image (toner image) on the transfer paper.

In the flow of image data, the composite function of the digital copying machine is realized by the bus control by the parallel bus Pb and the CDIC. The FAX transmission function, which is one of the copying functions, transmits the image data read by the scanner 200 to the IPP.
Performs image processing on CDIC and parallel bus Pb
FAX control unit FCU (hereinafter simply referred to as FCU)
(Referred to as). Public line communication network PN at FCU
(Hereinafter simply referred to as PN), and the data is transmitted to the PN as FAX data. In FAX reception, line data from the PN is converted into image data by the FCU, and is transferred to the IPP via the parallel bus Pb and the CDIC. In this case, no special image quality processing is performed, dot rearrangement and pulse control are performed in the VDC, and a visible image is formed on the transfer paper in the image forming unit 5.

In a situation where a plurality of jobs, for example, a copy function, a facsimile transmission / reception function and a printer output function, operate in parallel, the allocation of the reading unit 4, the imaging unit 5, and the right to use the parallel bus Pb to the job is performed by the system. It is controlled by the controller 6 and the process controller 1.

The process controller 1 controls the flow of image data, and the system controller controls the entire system and manages the activation of each resource. This digital copying function is selected and input on the operation board OPB to select the function of the copying machine, and set the processing contents such as the copying function and the FAX function.

The FAX transmission function performs image processing on read image data by IPP, and transfers the image data to an FCU (FAX control unit) via a CDIC and a parallel bus. The FCU converts the data into a communication network and transmits it to a PN (public line) as FAX data. In FAX reception, line data from the PN is converted into image data by the FCU, and is transferred to the IPP via the parallel bus and the CDIC. In this case, no special image quality processing is performed, dot rearrangement and pulse control are performed in the VDC, and a reproduced image is formed on transfer paper in the image forming unit.

FIG. 3 shows an outline of the image processing function of the IPP. The read image data is transmitted from the SBU via the CDIC to the scanner image processing 12 from the input I / F (interface) 11 of the IPP. Scanner image processing 12 is mainly intended to correct the deterioration of image information due to reading.
Are shading correction, scanner γ correction and MTF
Make corrections and so on. Although not a correction process, a scaling process for enlargement / reduction is also performed. After the correction processing of the read image data is completed, the image data is transferred to the CDIC via the output I / F 13.
At the time of output to transfer paper, image data from the CDIC is received from the input I / F 14, a filter process 15a is first performed, and an area gradation process is performed in the image quality process 15b. The data after the image quality processing is V via the output I / F 16.
Output to DC.

In the filter processing 15a of this embodiment, I
When edge extraction data generated by the MAC by the edge extraction processing described later is attached to the image data, the edge extraction filter processing is performed on the image data if the edge extraction data represents an edge, and the edge extraction data represents a non-edge. , The image data is subjected to a smoothing filter process that smoothly represents a halftone. When there is no edge extraction data attached to the image data, the image data is subjected to a filtering process of a neutral characteristic slightly in the middle of the edge enhancement and the smoothing, with a slight edge enhancement.

Area gradation processing includes density conversion, dither processing,
There is an error diffusion process or the like, and the main process is to approximate the area of the gradation information.

Once the image data subjected to the scanner image processing 12 is stored in the memory MEM, various reproduced images can be confirmed by changing the processing performed in the image quality processing 15. For example, try shaking the density of the reproduced image,
The atmosphere of the reproduced image can be changed by changing the number of lines of the dither matrix. At this time, it is not necessary to read the image again by the scanner 200 every time the processing is changed.
If the stored image is read from the EM, different processing can be performed on the same data any number of times.

FIG. 4 shows an outline of a functional configuration of the CDIC. The image data input / output control 21 inputs the read image data from the SBU and outputs the data to the IPP. The image data input controller 22 receives the image data subjected to the scanner image correction by the scanner image processing 12 by the IPP. The input data is subjected to data compression in the data compression unit 23 in order to increase the transfer efficiency on the parallel bus Pb. The compressed image data is parallel data I /
It is sent to the parallel bus Pb via F25. Image data input from the parallel data bus Pb via the parallel data I / F 25 is compressed for bus transfer, and is expanded by the data expansion unit 26. The decompressed image data is transferred to the IPP by the image data output control 27. The CDIC has a function of converting parallel data and serial data. System controller 6
Transfers data to the parallel bus Pb, and the process controller 1 transfers data to the serial bus Sb.
For communication between the two controllers 6 and 1, the data conversion unit 24 and the serial data I / F 29 use a parallel /
Performs serial data conversion. Serial data I / F28
Are for IPP, and also perform serial data transfer with IPP.

FIG. 5 shows an outline of a functional configuration of the VDC.
The VDC performs additional processing on the image data input from the IPP according to the characteristics of the imaging unit 5. The rearrangement process of the dots by the edge smoothing process and the pulse control of the image signal for the dot formation are performed, and the image data is output to the image forming unit 5. Apart from the conversion of the image data, it has the parallel data and serial data format conversion functions 33 to 35, and the VDC alone can support the communication between the system controller 6 and the process controller 1.

FIG. 6 shows an outline of the functional configuration of the IMAC. The parallel data I / F 41 manages input / output of image data to / from the parallel bus Pb, stores / reads image data to / from the MEM, and converts code data mainly input from an external PC to image data. Control deployment. The code data input from the PC is stored in the line buffer 42. That is, the data is stored in the local area, and the code data stored in the line buffer 42 is supplied to the video controller 43 based on the expansion processing command from the system controller 6 input via the system controller I / F 44. Expand to image data.
Expanded image data or parallel data I / F4
The image data input from the parallel bus Pb via the P1 is stored in the MEM. In this case, the data conversion unit 45
In step (2), image data to be stored is selected, data compression is performed in the data compression section 46 to increase the memory use efficiency, and image data is stored in the MEM while the memory access control section 47 manages the address of the MEM. I do.
When reading the image data stored in the MEM, the memory access control unit 47 controls the read destination address, and the read image data is expanded by the data expansion unit 48. When transferring the expanded image data to the parallel bus Pb, the data transfer is performed via the parallel data I / F 41.

The image data from the scanner 200 is transferred to the IPP
When the image data is subjected to the scanner image processing 12 and stored in the MEM, the IMAC reads out the stored image data,
The memory image processing 49 is performed, and the stored image data is updated to the image data that has been subjected to this processing. In the first embodiment, the content of the memory image processing 49 is edge extraction of image data.

That is, the image data read from the MEM is generated by the matrix generation 49a in the IMAC as shown in FIG.
The image data matrix generation shown in FIG. After the matrix generation, the product sum operation 49b performs the edge extraction filter coefficient matrices EDP1 to ED shown in FIGS.
The product-sum operation of each of P8 and the image data on the matrix is performed, and if the product-sum operation value is larger than the set value, it is determined that (the image data of) the target pixel at that time is an edge,
If it is less than the set value, it is determined that the image is not an edge.

The edge extraction filters EDP1 to EDP8 include a horizontal edge extraction filter, a vertical edge extraction filter, a left-up diagonal edge extraction filter, and a right-up diagonal edge extraction filter, and all of them are EDP1 to EDP8. Processing and determination as to whether there is any data are performed.

That is, the result of the product-sum operation with each edge extraction filter is compared with a preset threshold value in edge judgment 49c, and if the product-sum operation value is equal to or larger than the threshold value, it is determined that an edge has occurred. This edge determination result is obtained by code generation 49d
And 100: horizontal edge, 101: vertical edge, 110: left-up diagonal edge, 111: right-up diagonal edge, 00
0: non-edge, added to the image data input from the MEM in the image data regeneration 49e,
Accumulate again in MEM. That is, the image data on the MEM is updated to composite image data obtained by adding an edge determination code to the image data.

The above processing is performed for all the image data stored in the MEM, and after the processing for all the image data is completed, the image data in the MEM is sent to the IPP via the CDIC. Filter processing 15 of IPP (FIG. 3)
In a, the filter coefficient of the filtering performed in the IPP is adaptively switched using the content (determination result) added to the image data and inputted as a feature amount.
That is, in the case of 100: horizontal edge, a horizontal white edge enhancement filter or a horizontal black edge enhancement filter is selected and filtered according to whether the image data is a white edge (low density) or a black edge (high density). 101: vertical edge, 11
In the case of 0: a left-upward oblique edge or 111: a right-upward oblique edge, edge emphasis processing having the same directionality is performed. 000: When there is no edge, smoothing filtering for smoothing the change in shading is performed.

Here, as shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10, edge extraction using a 7 × 7 size matrix has been described as an example, but this is not a limitation. By changing the configuration of the sum operation 49b, processing by an edge extraction filter of an arbitrary size is possible.

FIG. 7 shows a flow of a process of storing an image in the MEM and a process of reading an image from the MEM.
(A) shows the image data generated by the image scanner 200 as M
Image data processing or transfer processes Ip1 to EM, and the above-described memory image processing 49 makes an edge determination and stores a code indicating the determination result in the MEM.
(B) shows the processing or transfer process Op1 to Op13 of the image data from reading out the image data from the MEM to outputting it to the printer 400. CDI
The control of C controls the data flow between such buses and units. Scanner image processing Ip1 to Ip13 (12 in FIG. 3) in IPP and memory image processing (edge determination) Ip14 (49) in IMAC for read image data, and IPP for image data for output to printer 400. The filter processing and image quality processing Op1 to Op13 (15a and 15b in FIG. 3) are performed independently.

Second Embodiment FIG. 11 shows an outline of a functional configuration of an IMAC used in a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the image processing performed by the IMAC on the image data stored in the MEM is an average value calculation. The target pixel and its surrounding pixels
An arbitrary number of pixels are extracted from M, and an average value for the arbitrary number of pixels extracted by the average value calculation 50a in the IMAC is calculated. The average value of the target pixel and its surrounding pixels calculated by the average value calculation 50a is added to the image data by the image data regeneration 50b, and is again stored in the MEM. M
The processing is performed on all the image data stored in the EM, and after the processing on all the image data is completed, the image data in the MEM is sent to the IPP via the CDIC.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of I used in the second embodiment of the present invention.
The outline of the functional configuration of the PP will be described. In the IPP, in a filtering process 15c, a filter coefficient of filtering performed in the IPP is adaptively performed in a high-density part and a low-density part of an image by using an average value of peripheral pixels added to and input to image data as a feature amount. Switch to That is, filtering that emphasizes the shading is performed when the average value is high, and filtering that suppresses the shading is performed when the average value is low.

In the above example, the average value of the pixel of interest and its surrounding pixels is calculated for each pixel. However, the average value of one line is calculated for each line of image data, and one line is calculated for each line. It is also possible to add two average value data.
Since the IMAC can randomly access the MEM, it is possible to calculate an average value for image data at an arbitrary position.

Third Embodiment FIG. 13 shows an outline of an IMAC mechanism configuration used in a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the image processing performed by IMAC on the image data stored in the MEM is a pattern matching process. Here, pattern matching for detecting an isolated point of an image is performed. A matrix is generated by the matrix generation 51a in the IMAC for the image data extracted from the MEM. After the generation of the matrix, comparison with the various matching patterns shown in FIG. 14 is performed by the pattern matching 51b.

As can be seen from the matching pattern of FIG. 14, in the isolated point detection, a white pixel surrounded by black pixels or a black pixel surrounded by white pixels is detected as an isolated point.
From the comparison result with the pattern, it is determined whether or not any of the matching patterns is hit in the matching determination 51c. The code generation unit 51d codes this determination result as 0: non-isolated point, 1: isolated point, and the image data regeneration unit 51e adds a code to the image data input from the MEM, and again generates the MEM. To accumulate. The above processing is performed for all the image data stored in the MEM, and after the processing for all the image data is completed, the image data in the MEM is sent to the IPP via the CDIC.

FIG. 15 shows a graph of I used in the second embodiment of the present invention.
The outline of the functional configuration of the PP will be described. In the IPP, an isolated point removing process 15d is performed in the IPP based on a pattern matching determination result added to image data and input. That is, if the image data group centered or substantially centered on the pixel of interest corresponds to one of the patterns in FIG. 14, and the image data of interest corresponds to the X-marked pixel on the pattern, the average value of the peripheral pixels (〇) The image data of the target pixel is changed.

Here, the pattern matching for the isolated point detection has been described as an example. However, the matching pattern is not limited to this, and can be applied to any matching pattern of any size.

Fourth Embodiment FIG. 16 shows an outline of a functional configuration of an IMAC used in a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the fourth embodiment, the image processing performed by the IMAC on the image data stored in the MEM is a frequency analysis of the image data. here,
A discrete wavelet is used for frequency conversion for frequency analysis of a child. The image data extracted from the MEM is subjected to frequency conversion by a discrete wavelet transform by a frequency conversion 52a in the IMAC. After the frequency conversion of the image data, a main frequency component determination 52b determines which frequency band component of the image data the signal has. When the discrete wavelet transform is performed once, the image data is decomposed into four frequency components of LL (low / low), HL (low), LH (high), and HH (high / high). From these four frequency components, the frequency component with the highest energy concentration is selected in the main frequency component determination 52b, and the frequency component is used as the main frequency component of the image data. After the main frequency component determination, a code indicating whether the main frequency component determined by the code generator 52c is LL (low / low), HL (low), LH (high), or HH (high / high) is generated. Specifically, 00: LL, 01: HL, 10: LH, 11: H
H. The generated code is added to the image data input from the MEM in the image data regeneration 52d, and is again stored in the MEM.

The above processing is repeated for each block on which discrete wavelet transform is performed on the image data stored in the MEM. After processing of all image data is completed, the image data in the MEM is transferred to the IPP via the CDIC.
Sent to

FIG. 17 shows a graph of I used in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
The outline of the functional configuration of the PP will be described. In the IPP, a filter coefficient of a filtering process is switched in the IPP using a result of frequency analysis by a discrete wavelet transform added to and input to image data as a feature amount. That is,
Filter processing is performed to express the image of the frequency of LL (low / low), HL (low), LH (high) or HH (high / high) represented by the code most clearly.

In the above, the case where the frequency conversion method is the discrete wavelet transform has been described, but another frequency conversion method such as a discrete Fourier transform may be used as the frequency conversion method.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an outline of a mechanism of a digital color copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of a configuration of an electric control system of the copying machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image signal processing device IPP illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a compression / decompression and data interface control unit CDIC shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the video data control VDC shown in FIG.

6 is an image memory access control IMAC shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7A is a flowchart showing the flow and processing of image data from writing image data read by the scanner 200 shown in FIG. 2 to the image memory MEM and further updating and writing the image data into the MEM by using the IMAC; (B)
9 is a flowchart showing the flow and processing of image data from reading image data from the image memory MEM to outputting the image data to the printer 400.

8 is a plan view showing a distribution of corresponding pixels in an image data group extracted by the matrix generation 49a shown in FIG.

9 is a plan view showing four types of distributions of multiplication coefficients addressed to an image data group in the product-sum calculation 49b shown in FIG.

10 is a plan view showing another four types of distribution of the multiplication coefficient addressed to the image data group in the product-sum calculation 49b shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 shows IMA used in the second embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of C.

FIG. 12 shows an IPP used in the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 shows an IMA used in the third embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of C.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing an isolated point distribution pattern to be checked by the pattern matching 51b shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 shows an IPP used in the third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the first embodiment.

FIG. 16 shows IMA used in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of C.

FIG. 17 shows an IPP used in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the first embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

200: Document scanning scanner 400: Full color printer IPP: Image signal processing device CDIC: Compression / decompression and data interface control unit VDC: Video data control IMAC: Image memory access control FCU: FAX transmission / reception unit SBU ： Sensor-Bo
Do Unit PN: Public line

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/40 H04N 1/40 Z 5L096 F term (Reference) 2C087 AA03 AA09 AA15 AC08 BA03 BA07 BB10 BC07 BD40 2C187 AC07 AD03 5B021 AA01 BB00 DD00 DD18 5B057 AA11 BA02 CA01 CA08 CA12 CA16 CB01 CB07 CB12 CB16 CC02 CE02 CE03 CE05 CE06 CE11 CE13 CH09 CH11 CH14 CH18 DA08 DB02 DB06 DB09 DC09 DC16 DC22 DC33 5C077 LL19 MM03 PP33 PP18 PP32 PP33 5L096 AA02 AA06 CA14 FA26 FA32 GA07 GA17 HA08 LA05

Claims (6)

[Claims] A programmable arithmetic processing means for processing image data provided by an image data input means; an image bus managing means for collectively managing transmission and reception of image data of a data bus to the arithmetic processing means; a memory device; Memory management means for collectively managing the transmission and reception of image data on the data bus to and from the memory device, the memory management means accumulating image data in the memory device, and performing the arithmetic processing on the accumulated image data An image processing device that performs image processing different from image processing performed by the means. 2. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the another image processing of the memory management means is an edge extraction processing of the image, and the memory management means adds an edge extraction result to the image data when sending the image data to the arithmetic processing means. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arithmetic processing unit processes the image data using the edge extraction result as a feature amount. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the another image processing of the memory management means is an average value calculation of image data of a target pixel and a peripheral pixel. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the result of the value operation is added to the image data and sent;
The image processing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 4. The another image processing of the memory management means is a pattern matching processing. When sending the image data to the arithmetic processing means, the memory management means adds the pattern matching result to the image data and sends it. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arithmetic processing means processes the image data using a pattern matching result as a feature amount. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the another image processing of the memory management means is a frequency analysis processing of image data, and the memory management means converts the frequency analysis result into image data when sending the image data to the arithmetic processing means. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arithmetic processing means processes the image data using the frequency analysis result as a feature amount. 6. The first, second, third and fourth aspects of the present invention.
An image forming apparatus comprising: the image processing apparatus according to claim 5; and a printer that forms an image represented by the image data processed by the arithmetic processing unit on a sheet.