JPH02181273A - Picture processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To operate a picture processing system with use of an existing device and without changing a process application, etc., by outputting the converted picture data in the same way as the read output of the picture data and outputting selectively these picture data. CONSTITUTION:A switch circuit 2 outputs selectively the picture data supplied from an A1 scanner 4a and an A3 scanner 4b or the picture data supplied from an A1 scanner interface 6c and an A3 scanner interface 6d of a vector/ raster converter 6 based on the designation given from a keyboard 23 of a picture filing device 1. A switch circuit 3 outputs the picture data received from a printer interface 54 to a printer device 5 or outputs the vector data received from the interface 54 to a vector/raster converter 7 in response to the designation of a CPU 34. The picture data converted by the converter 7 is outputted to the device 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Purpose of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an image processing system comprising an image filing device and the like that perform image registration, search, etc., for example.

(Prior Art) In recent years, images such as documents, which are generated in large quantities, are read by optical two-dimensional scanning using a two-dimensional scanning device (scanner).
Image filing devices have been put into practical use that store the read images on an optical disk, search for and read out any stored image, and output it in a form that can be viewed by an output device such as a CRT display device or a printer.

Furthermore, in recent years, as networking and systemization have progressed, a plurality of image information filing devices are connected via LAN, etc., and registration and searches are performed while communicating with each other.

In such networking and systemization, existing computer systems, CAD (coIputera
ided design) system, OA (office
Automation) systems have begun to be integrated, and the data handled has expanded from simple handwritten drawings and documents to CAD output drawings and word processor output documents.

Particularly in the field of drawings, with the spread of CAD, the number of CAD output drawings is increasing, but with conventional image filing systems, the drawings have to be printed once on paper and then input using a scanner. For this reason, when filing CAD output drawings, the procedure is to output CAD data (code data) with a plotter (which takes a lot of time) and then input it with a scanner, which makes registration and recording very inefficient. , it was difficult to construct a practical system.

Therefore, it has been considered to store vector data (corresponding to a CAD output screen) as drawing data stored on a floppy disk in an optical disk in an image filing device.

However, with such devices, when reading vector data as a CAD output drawing from an optical disk and printing it, changes in the processing application, etc. are required, such as changing the vector data to image data (image data) through drawing processing, etc. However, existing equipment cannot handle this problem, and the price also increases.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) As mentioned above, an object that eliminates the drawbacks of having to change the processing application, etc., which cannot be handled with existing equipment, and furthermore, the price increases. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing system that can be used with existing equipment without changing processing applications, etc., and that can suppress increases in price.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The image processing system of the present invention includes a storage means for storing image data and vector data as graphic data, and a storage means for storing image data or vector data from the storage means. a reading means for reading; a converting means for converting the vector data read from the storage means by the reading means into image data; and a second output means that selectively outputs the image data from the first output means or the image data from the reading means.

(Operation) This invention stores image data and vector data as graphic data in a storage means, reads image data or vector data from this storage means with a reading means,
Convert this read vector data to image data,
This converted image data is output in the same manner as the read output of image data from the reading means, and the outputted image data or the image data from the reading means is selectively output. .

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an image processing system of the present invention. That is, an image filing device 1 as an image processing device, a switching circuit 2.3, a scanner device 4, a printer device 5, a vector-raster conversion device 6.7, and a CA D
(coIlputer aided design)
It is composed of system 8.

The CAD system 8 includes a CAD host 8a1 and a personal computer (personal computer) 8b, and creates and stores vector data (code data) as drawing data. This personal computer 8b is a well-known device consisting of a keyboard, a CRT display device, a storage unit, a control unit, etc., and communicates with the communication interface 58 in the image filing device 1 via a communication line 9a using a built-in interface (not shown) (RS232C). The vector-raster conversion device 6 is connected via a communication line 9b by a built-in interface (GPIB) not shown.
It is designed to be connected to a communication interface (GPIB) 6a inside.

The vector-raster conversion device 6 converts CAD data from the CAD system 8, that is, vector data (code data) as drawing data, into raster data (image data; It converts the image data output from the scanner 4b into the same data and outputs it to the switching circuit 2, and includes a communication interface 6a, an s-vector-raster conversion circuit 6b, and an AI scanner interface 6c.
, and an A3 scanner interface 6d.

The communication interface 6a outputs vector data as a diagram supplied from the personal computer 8b of the CAD system 8 to the vector-raster conversion circuit 6b. The above-mentioned vector-raster conversion circuit 6b is a CAD/raster conversion circuit that is supplied from the above-mentioned communication interface 6a.
Vector data as drawing data from the system 8 is converted into raster data (image data) and output to the A1 scanner interface 6cs or the A3 scanner interface 6d.

The A1 scanner interface 6C transfers raster data (image data; image data) supplied from the vector-raster conversion circuit 6b to the A1 scanner 4.
It is output to the switching circuit 2 in the same way as the transfer of image data from a. Interface 6 for the above A3 scanner
d outputs raster data (image data) supplied from the vector-raster conversion circuit 6b to the switching circuit 2 in the same way as the image data transferred from the third scanner 4b.

The vector-raster conversion device 7 converts vector data (code data) as CAD data, that is, drawing data, read from the destination disk device 20 supplied from the printer interface 54 in the image filing device 1 into raster data (image data; This is the interface 7a.

It is composed of a vector-raster conversion circuit 7b and a printer interface 7c.

The interface 7a outputs vector data as drawing data supplied from the printer interface 54 via the changeover switch 3 to the vector-raster conversion circuit 7b. The vector-raster conversion circuit 7b converts vector data as drawing data from the optical disc 20 supplied from the interface 7a into raster data (image data) and outputs it to the printer interface 7c. . The printer interface 7c is
Raster data (image data) supplied from the vector-raster conversion circuit 7b is output to the switching circuit 3 in the same way as the image data is transferred from the printer interface 54.

The scanner device 4 is, for example, a two-dimensional scanning device that scans an original (document) two-dimensionally with a laser beam, thereby scanning the original (document) with a laser beam.
It obtains electrical signals according to the image on the original, and A1
It is comprised of an A1 scanner 4a that reads A2 size originals, and an A3 scanner 4b that reads A3, A4, A5, B4, and B5 size originals. A
The A3 scanner 4a and the A3 scanner 4b are connected to scanner interfaces 52a and 52b of the image filing device 1 via the switching circuit 2, respectively.

The printer device 5 is the scanner device 4a% or 4
The image read in b, the image retrieved from the optical disk 20, or the image displayed on the CRT display device 24 is printed out (hard copy), and the image is output as it is from the printer interface 54 supplied from the switching circuit 3. or the print data from the printer interface 54 is printed according to the print data converted from vector data to raster data (image data) by the vector-raster conversion device 7.

The switching circuit 2 switches the A1 scanner 4a,
It selectively outputs image data supplied from the A3 scanner 4b or image data supplied from the A1 scanner interface 6c'-A3 scanner interface 6d of the vector-raster converter 6.

The switching circuit 3 switches the printer interface 5 in the image filing device 1 according to the designation by the control signal from the CPU 34 (the CPU 34 determines that the image data to be printed is vector data).
The image data supplied from the printer interface 54 is outputted to the printer device 5, or the vector data supplied from the printer interface 54 is outputted to the vector-raster conversion device 7.
The image data converted by this vector-raster conversion device 7 is output to the printer device 5.

The image filing device 1 includes a control module 10,
Memory module 12, image processing module 14, communication control module 16, scanner device 18, optical disk 2
0, optical disk device 22, keyboard 23, CRT
It is composed of a display device 24, a printer device 25, a magnetic disk 26 and a magnetic disk device 27, a mouse 29, a system bus 30, and an image bus 32.

The control module 10 includes a CPU 34 that performs various controls for image storage, search, and editing processing, and an interface circuit 36 that connects the optical disk device 22, magnetic disk device 27, and CPU 34.

The CPU 34 also includes a keyboard 23 and a mouse 2.
9 is connected.

The memory module 12 includes a main memory 38 for storing various control programs such as image storage, search, and editing, management information, etc., and a page memory as an image memory having a storage capacity corresponding to images of several pages of an A4-sized document. 40,
and display memory 42 as display ink-face.
and a display control section 44. A part of the page memory 40 is provided with a buffer memory area 40a having a capacity of 128 bytes. Page memory 4
0 is a memory that temporarily stores images to be stored on the optical disc 20 or images read from the optical disc 20, for example. The display memory 42 also includes the CRT display device 2.
The image actually displayed in the display window (not shown) at 4, that is, the page memory 40
An image obtained by enlarging, reducing, rotating, inserting, or inverting black and white images is stored.

The image processing module 14 includes an enlargement/reduction circuit 46 that enlarges/reduces an image, a vertical/horizontal conversion circuit 48 that performs image rotation processing by converting the image vertically and horizontally, and image compression (reducing redundancy; encoding). ) and a compression/expansion circuit (CODEC) 50 that performs encoding and decoding processing (returning reduced redundancy; decoding), and a scanner interface corresponding to the A1 scanner 18a SA3 scanner 18b of the scanner device 18, respectively. 52a, 52b
Printer interface 54 for one printer device 25
, and an internal bus 56.

The communication control module 16 is constituted by a communication interface 58 such as R3232C connected to the CAD system 6 via the communication line 9a, for example. This communication control module 16 supplies search information transmitted via a communication line to the main memory 38, and transmits an image corresponding to the transmitted search information. Furthermore, the page memory 40 stores images to be stored on the optical disk 20.
It also supplies search information corresponding to the image to the main memory 38.

The system bus 30 is a bus for control signals of various devices, and connects the control module 10, the memory module 12, the image processing module 14, and the communication control module 16. Further, an image bus 32 is a bus for images, and includes a memory module 12 and an image processing module 14.
, and the communication control module 16.

The optical disk device 22 sequentially stores images read by the scanner device 18 or vector data as drawing data supplied from the personal computer 8b of the CAD system 8 via the communication line 9a on the optical disk 20. . It also searches the optical disc 20 for an image corresponding to search information specified using the keyboard 23 or the like.

The keyboard 23 is used to input unique search information corresponding to the image to be stored on the optical disc 20 and various operation commands such as storage, search, and editing processing.

Further, the mouse 29 can be used, for example, by arbitrarily moving a cursor (not shown) displayed on a display window on the CRT display device 24 vertically and horizontally, and by giving an instruction at a desired position. This function is used to select or instruct the displayed contents (various operation modes, area designation for edited images, icons, etc.).

The CRT display device (cathode ray tube display device) 24 is
Images read by the scanner device 18 and the optical disc 2
The image searched from 0 is displayed. This CR
The display area for displaying images of the T-display device 24 is
It is a multi-window type display device that can display four images simultaneously using a maximum of four windows (not shown). Editing processes such as enlarging, reducing, rotating, scrolling, etc. are performed on the images displayed in each display window independently.

The magnetic disk device 27 stores various control programs on a magnetic disk 28 attached to the magnetic disk device 27, and also has an optical disk 20 that stores search information input from the keyboard 23 and images corresponding to this search information. It stores search data consisting of the above storage address, image size, etc.

The command/status signal timing between the A3 scanner 4b and the A3 scanner interface 52b is as shown in FIG. 3, and the signal timing of the image request command is as shown in FIG. The signal timing of image output is as shown in FIG.

Each time t1, t2, t3 of the strobe signal in this image output signal timing is changed depending on the document size, and the time t4, t that determines the image output strobe cycle is
5 is changed according to the linear density.

The exchange of signals between the A3 scanner interface 6d and the A3 scanner interface 52b is also carried out in accordance with the above A.
3 scanner 4b and A3 scanner interface 52b
This is the same as the exchange of signals between The commands are also common.

Furthermore, the signal exchange between the A1 scanner 4a and the A1 scanner interface 52a is the same as the signal exchange between the A3 scanner 4b and the A3 scanner interface 52b.

The exchange of signals between the A1 scanner interface 6a and the A1 scanner interface 52b is also performed in accordance with the above A1 scanner interface 6a and the A1 scanner interface 52b.
1 scanner 4a and A1 scanner interface 52a
This is the same as the exchange of signals between The commands are also common.

Next, the operation of image storage and retrieval processing in such a configuration will be described. First, image storage processing will be explained. For example, now with keyboard 23,
3. Select and set the registration mode from the scanner 4b, and input search information for images to be stored on the optical disc 20. This search information is composed of a plurality of search key items, and the contents of the search key items are set in advance. The CPU 34 checks the validity of the input search information according to a predefined format. Further, the search information is compared with the search information already registered on the optical disc 20 to check for double registration. The input search information is stored in the main memory 13 according to the result of this check.

Next, the original is set on the A3 scanner 4b, and the CPU 34 operates the optical disk device 22 and the A3 scanner 4b. At this time, the switching circuit 2
connects the A3 scanner 4b and the A3 scanner interface 52b. As a result, an image such as a document set on the A3 scanner 4b is two-dimensionally scanned and photoelectrically converted. This photoelectrically converted line information of the image is supplied to the H3 scanner interface 52b via the switching circuit 2. The line information supplied to this A3 scanner interface 52b is sequentially stored in the page memory 40. The image stored in the page memory 40 is stored in the display memory 42 and displayed on the CRT display device 24.

The user checks the skew, density, resolution, etc. of the image displayed on the CRT display device 24, and when the displayed image is satisfactory, inputs a memory key (not shown). Then, the CPU 34 encodes the image stored in the page memory 40 by compressing the band using a well-known MR method or the like in the compression/expansion circuit 50 for each line of information. This encoded image is supplied to the optical disc device 22 and stored on the optical disc 20.

When the storage of the image on the optical disk 20 is completed, the CPU 34
stores the physical track address where the image is stored, the logical address determined from the physical sector address, the image length expressed in block length, image attributes, etc. in the main memory 38 in correspondence with the search code (search information). Next, the CPU 34 supplies the search data stored in the main memory 38 to the magnetic disk device 27. Thereby, the magnetic disk device 27 stores the supplied search data in the magnetic disk 26.

Furthermore, registration of images from the A1 scanner 4a is performed in the same manner as described above.

Next, A from the CAD system 8 is input using the keyboard 23.
Drawing data for three sizes (A4, etc.) are selected and set to a registration mode by converting image data, and search information for images to be stored on the optical disc 20 is input. This search information is composed of a plurality of search key items, and the contents of the search key items are set in advance. The CPU 34 checks the validity of the input search information according to a predefined format. Furthermore, optical disc 2
Double registration is checked by comparing the search information with the search information registered in 0. The input search information is stored in the main memory 13 according to the result of this check.

Next, from the computer 8b of the CAD system 8 to the communication line 9
b, and outputs vector data to the vector-raster conversion circuit 6b via the interface 6a. As a result, the vector-raster conversion circuit 6b converts the vector data into raster data (image data) and outputs it to the switching circuit 2 via the A3 scanner interface 6d. Further, the CPU 34 operates the optical disk device 22 and outputs an operation start signal to the switching circuit 2. At this time, according to a signal from the CPU 34, the switching circuit 2
The A3 scanner interface 6d and the A3 scanner interface 52b are connected.

As a result, an operation start signal from the CPU 34 is supplied to the A3 scanner interface 6d, and line information from the A3 scanner interface 6d is supplied to the A3 scanner interface 52b via the switching circuit 2. The line information supplied to this A3 scanner interface 52b is sequentially stored in the page memory 40. The image stored in the page memory 40 is stored in the display memory 42 and displayed on the CRT display device 24. The user checks the skew density, resolution, etc. of the image displayed on the CRT display device 24, and when the displayed image is satisfactory, inputs a memory key (not shown). Then, the CPU 34 compresses and expands the image stored in the page memory 40 for each line information.
0, encoding processing is performed by band compression using a well-known MR method or the like. This encoded image is
The data is supplied to the optical disc device 22 and stored on the optical disc 20.

When the storage of the image on the optical disk 20 is completed, the CPU 34
stores the physical track address where the image is stored, the logical address determined from the physical sector address, the image length expressed by block length, image attributes, etc. in the main memory 38 in correspondence with the search code (search information). Then,
The CPU 34 supplies the search data stored in the main memory 38 to the magnetic disk device 27. Thereby, the magnetic disk device 27 stores the supplied search data in the magnetic disk 26.

Also, the keyboard 23 allows the user to input A from the CAD system 8.
Drawing data for three sizes (other sizes may be used) is selected and set to a registration mode in which vector data is maintained, and search information for images to be stored on the optical disc 20 is input. This search information is composed of a plurality of search key items, and the contents of the search key items are set in advance. The CPU 34 checks the validity of the input search information according to a predefined format. Further, the search information is compared with the search information already registered on the optical disc 20 to check for double registration. The input search information is stored in the main memory 13 according to the result of this check.

Next, from the computer 8b of the CAD system 8 to the communication line 9
output to the interface 58 via a. The vector data (code data) supplied to this interface 58 is sequentially stored in the page memory 40. The image stored in this page memory 40 is stored in the display memory 42.
and displayed on the CRT display device 24.

The vector data displayed on the CRT display device 24 is checked, and when the displayed data is satisfactory, a storage key (not shown) is input. Then, C
The vector data stored in the page memory 40 of the PU 34 is supplied to the optical disk device 22 and stored on the optical disk 20.

When the vector data has been stored on the optical disk 20,
The CPU 34 stores the physical track address where the image is stored,
A logical address determined from a physical sector address, a data length expressed by a block length, etc. are stored in the main memory 38 in correspondence with a search code (search information). Next, the CPU 34 supplies the search data stored in the main memory 38 to the magnetic disk device 27. Thereby, the magnetic disk device 27 stores the supplied search data in the magnetic disk 26.

Next, a case where an image retrieved from the optical disc 20 is printed out by the printer device 5 will be described.

First, a search mode is set using the keyboard 23, and search information corresponding to the image desired to be searched is input.

The CPU 34 sequentially compares and collates the input search information with the search information stored on the magnetic disk 26, and sequentially checks whether or not search information that matches the input search information is stored.

As a result, the CPU 34 reads the document number of the matching search information from the magnetic disk 26 and stores it in the main memory 38. Next, the CPU 34 displays the list of document numbers stored in the main memory 38 on the CRT display device 24. Next, desired search information is selected from the search information displayed on the CRT display device 24 using the keyboard 23. The address corresponding to this selected search information is read. The CPU 34 calculates a physical track address and a physical sector address corresponding to this address, and uses these addresses to cause the optical disc device 22 to reproduce images from the optical disc 20.

Further, the CPU 34 sends an image for each scanning line supplied from the optical disk device 22 via the interface circuit 36 to the buffer memory area 40a1 via the system bus 30, the image bus 32, and the internal bus 56 to the compression/decompression circuit 50. Supplied. Thereby, the compression/expansion circuit 50 performs band expansion processing (decoding) on the supplied image by MR inverse transformation. The image information decoded by the compression/expansion circuit 50 is supplied to the enlargement/reduction circuit 46 via an internal bus 56. The CPU 34 reduces the image from the compression/expansion circuit 50 using the enlargement/reduction circuit 46 according to the corresponding reduction ratio. This reduced image is stored in page memory 40 via image bus 32. The image stored in the page memory 40 is supplied to the display memory 42 via the image bus 32, stored in the display memory 42, and displayed on the CRT display device 24.

An instruction to print out the image displayed on the CRT display device 24 is given using the keyboard 23, for example. The CPU 34 outputs the image information in the page memory 40 to the printer device 25 via the image bus 32, internal bus 56, and printer interface 54.

Next, a case where vector data as drawing data retrieved from the optical disk 20 is printed out by the printer device 5 will be described. First, a search mode is set using the keyboard 23, and search information corresponding to the drawing data to be searched is input. The CPU 34 sequentially compares and collates the manually entered search information with the search information stored on the magnetic disk 26, and sequentially checks whether or not search information that matches the manually entered search information is stored.

As a result, the CPU 34 outputs the document number (
drawing number) is read from the magnetic disk 26 and stored in the main memory 38. Next, the CPU 34 displays the list of document numbers stored in the main memory 38 on the CRT display device 24. Next, desired search information is selected from the search information displayed on the CRT display device 24 using the keyboard 23. The address corresponding to this selected search information is read. The CPU 34 calculates a physical track address and a physical sector address corresponding to this address, and uses these addresses to cause the optical disk device 22 to reproduce drawing data from the optical disk 20.

The CPU 34 also transfers drawing data supplied from the optical disk device 22 via the interface circuit 36 to the buffer memory area 40a1 via the system bus 30, the image bus 32 via the internal bus 56, and the page memory 40 via the internal bus 56.
is memorized. The drawing data stored in the page memory 40 is supplied to the display memory 42 via the image bus 32, stored in the display memory 42, and displayed on the CRT display device 24.

For example, the keyboard 23
A printout instruction is given. The CPU 34 outputs vector data as drawing data in the page memory 40 to the switching circuit 3 via the image bus 32, internal bus 56, and printer interface 54.

At this time, according to the signal from the CPU 34, the switching circuit 3
The code data from the printer interface 54 is switched to be output to the vector-rask conversion device 7, and the raster data (image data) from the vector-raster conversion device 7 is switched to be output to the printer device 5.

Therefore, the drawing data (vector data) from the printer interface 54 is transferred to the vector-rusk conversion circuit 7 via the switching circuit 3 and the interface 7a.
b. Thereby, the vector-raster conversion circuit 7b converts the vector data into raster data (image data) and outputs it to the printer device 5 via the printer interface 7c and the switching circuit 3.

As a result, since the drawing data (code data) from the optical disc 20 is converted into image data and supplied to the printer device 5, the printing process is performed in the same way as when reading and printing image data from the optical disc 20. .

As described above, when printing vector data stored on an optical disk as drawing data created with a CAD system using a printer device, the vector data is supplied to the printer device in the same way as when printing image data read from an optical disk. This is how it was done. That is, vector data created by a CAD system and stored on an optical disk is changed to image data suitable for handling by a printer device. This allows vector-to-raster converted image data to be directly output to a printer and printed, in the same way as printing image data on an optical disc. Therefore, vector data as drawing data can be easily printed.

In addition, as an image filing device, existing devices can be used as they are without changing the processing application, etc., and vector data created by a CAD system can be stored on an optical disk without increasing costs. , it can be read from an optical disc, converted into image data, and printed.

In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which there is only one type of printer device, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of printer devices of various sizes may be prepared and switched depending on the document size.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, the present invention provides an image processing system that can be used with existing equipment without changing the processing application, etc., and that can suppress price increases. Can be provided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the overall configuration, FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the main parts of the configuration, and FIGS. 3 to 5. is an A3 scanner,
2 is a timing chart for explaining signal exchange between the A3 scanner interface on the vector-rusk conversion device side and the A3 scanner interface on the image filing device side. 1... Image filing device, 2.3... Switching circuit, 4... Scanner device, 4a... A1 scanner, 4
b...A3 scanner, 5...printer device, 6.7
... Vector-raster conversion device, 6a, 7a... Interface, 6b, 7b... Vector-raster conversion circuit, 6C... Interface for A1 scanner,
3 scanner interface to 6d..., 7C...
- Printer interface, 8... CAD system, 8a... CAD host, 8b... personal computer, 9a, 9b... communication line, 20... optical disk, 22... optical disk device, 23 ...Keyboard, 24...CRT display device, 27...
・Magnetic disk device, 29...Mouse, 30...System node, 32...Image bus, 34...CPU
, 36... Interface circuit, 38... Main memory, 40... Page memory, 40a... Buffer memory area, 46... Enlarging/reducing circuit, 50...
Compression/expansion circuit, 52a...A1 scanner interface, 52b...A3 scanner interface, 5
4...Printer interface. Applicant's Representative Patent Attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 2 Figure Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] Storage means for storing image data and vector data as graphic data; reading means for reading image data or vector data from the storage means; and reading means for reading image data or vector data from the storage means. a converting means for converting vector data into image data; a first outputting means for outputting the image data from the converting means in the same manner as the reading output of the image data from the reading means; and from the first outputting means. or a second output means for selectively outputting the image data from the reading means, or the image data from the reading means.