JP2575345B2 - Image processing device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus capable of performing a color image conversion process for converting color image information into other color image information.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a color image processing apparatus using an analog signal, for example, even when it is desired to convert a color only in a desired area on a monitor, the color of the entire monitor has been changed. Therefore, color conversion could not be performed only on a part of the image.

An object of the present invention is to convert a color of a desired area of a color image into an arbitrary color, thereby performing various image processing. In addition, when specifying such an area, operability is good and erroneous operation is possible. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus with a small number.

Embodiments Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of an image forming system to which the present invention is applied. Here, 100 is an imaging device that converts a color image into a video signal, and 200 is a video signal from the imaging device 100 that is a three-color color separation signal of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). An image controller for converting into G and B signals and storing in a memory, 300 is a CRT display that displays image information stored in the image controller 200, and 400 is an image controller that stores image information stored in the image controller 200 on a recording member. This is a color image recording apparatus for recording.

In the color image recording device 400, the image processing unit 4
01 converts the R, G, and B signals supplied from the image controller 200 into image signals, respectively. The image signals are supplied to laser oscillators 402, 403 and 404, respectively. Each signal supplied by the laser oscillator 402, 403, 404 is converted into a blinking signal of the laser beam, and each scanner 405,
The light is emitted to 406 and 407. Each of these scanners 405-407
The light output from the laser oscillators 402 to 404 is
8 is illuminated.

409 is a primary charger for primary charging the surface of the photoconductor 408, 410 and 411 are secondary chargers having the same polarity as the primary charger,
412 and 413 are first and second exposure light sources. A blue developing device 414 visualizes a latent image corresponding to the blue (B) image formed on the photoconductor 408, and 415 and 416 similarly display latent images corresponding to the green (G) and red (R) images, respectively. A green developing device and a red developing device for visualizing an image. A transfer charger 417 transfers a visible image formed on the photoconductor 408 to copy paper. At the transfer position by the transfer charger 417, the copy paper 418 or 419
From 21 each feed roller 422 or 423, transport roller pair 4
24 or 425, the paper is fed via a conveying roller pair 426, and the registration roller pair 427 aligns the top of the copy paper 418 or 419 with the top of the visible image on the photoconductor 408. Reference numeral 429 denotes a separation roller for separating the copy paper on which the visible image has been transferred from the surface of the photoreceptor 408, and the separated copy paper is adsorbed on the surface of the conveyance belt 431 by the suction fan 430, and is conveyed by the conveyance belt 431. The sheet is conveyed to the fixing unit 432. The copy paper on which the transferred visible image is fixed by the unit 432 is discharged onto a discharge tray 434 via a discharge roller pair 433.

Next, reference numerals 435, 436 and 437 denote blue beam detectors and green beam detectors arranged at the irradiation positions of the laser beam corresponding to the color image information of blue (B), green (G) and red (R) onto the photoreceptor surface. And a red beam detector.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electric circuit for processing image information according to the present embodiment. Here, in the image controller 200, reference numeral 201 denotes color image information supplied from the imaging device 100.
A signal processing circuit that converts the signals into R, G, and B signals and generates a synchronization signal.
A / D processing circuit for digitally converting R, G and B signals
A write controller 203 controls the write timing and the like to a line memory 204, which will be described later, based on the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals supplied from the signal processing circuit 201. Reference numeral 204 denotes a line memory. The R, G, and B signals digitized by the A / D processing circuit 202 are supplied to the line memory 204 as 6-bit digital signals.
The timing is adjusted to the timing of the main memory 206. 205 is a DMA (direct memory access) controller for adjusting the timing to the line memory 204 and the main memory 206, and 206 is a main memory for storing each image information supplied from the line memory 204. In this main memory 206, 206a
Denotes a memory for R, 206b denotes a memory for G, and 206c denotes a memory for B.

Next, a central control unit (CP) 207 controls writing and reading of information to and from a main memory and the like.
U) and 208 are memories including a ROM storing a control program of the CPU 207 and a RAM for temporarily storing data, and 209 is a memory.
A key input / output device for inputting data to the CPU 207, a key input port 210 for an operator to input data and various operations, and a light 211 for specifying an area of an image displayed on the CRT display 300 It is a pen interface.

Reference numeral 212 denotes each color memory 206a, 206b, 2 in the main memory 206 according to the area conversion data code supplied from the CPU 207.
A controller for controlling writing and reading of data to and from the memory 06c, a buffer memory 213 for temporarily storing data designated for area conversion, and a control 214 for outputting image information to the CRT display 300 and the color image recording device 400 Video read controller to perform, 215 is main memory 2
This is a D / A interface that converts the digital image signal supplied from 06 into an analog image signal.

Next, the image processing unit 401 of the color image recording apparatus 400
Is described. 450a, 450b and 450c are each B
The signal processing unit for G, the signal processing unit for G, and the signal processing unit for R. Since these units have the same configuration, the unit 450a will be described. In the unit 450a, 451 is a comparator for converting a multi-bit digital image signal sent from the main memory 206c into a blinking signal of laser light, and 452 is a random threshold for reproducing a density within a certain area. Is stored in the comparator 451. The comparator 451 compares the digital image signal from the main memory 206c with a threshold value of the dither ROM 452 and converts the digital image signal into a blinking laser beam signal. Reference numeral 453 denotes a dither controller for controlling the address of the dither ROM; 454, a buffer memory for synchronizing the laser blinking signal supplied from the comparator 451 with a detection signal from the beam detector 435 generated for each line; Controls the reading of data from the buffer memory 454 by the detection signal from the beam detector 435,
This is a write / read controller that performs data write control using a horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC.

Next, 456 is a CPU for controlling each part, 457 is an output I / O for operating the solenoid clutch, 458 is an input I / O for receiving an image leading end detection signal, 459 is a ROM storing a control program of the CPU 456 and R used as a register
A memory including AM, 460 is an image leading edge detector for a B image, 461 is an image leading edge detector for a G image, and 462 is an image leading edge detector for an R image.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be described.

Upon receiving the color video signal from the imaging device 100, the signal processing circuit 201 converts the supplied color video signal into three-color separation signals B, G, and R from the horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC according to the timing of the carrier signal. . At this time, the horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals HSYNC and VSYNC are also transferred to the write controller 203, and these signals are sent to the addresses of the A / D conversion processing circuit 202 and the line memory 204.
Here, since the video signal is high-speed, the video signal is stored in the line memory 204 for one horizontal line, and is transferred to the main memory 206 for each line, and as shown in FIG.
A signal for one horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC is stored in memory for one vertical synchronization signal VSYNC, and is written to the main memory 206 during one vertical synchronization signal VSYNC signal. In this way, the B, G, and R color image information is written to the main memory 206.

Next, an operation of outputting information in the memory 206 to the CRT 300 will be described. Video read controller 214 is CPU207
When operated by the video read controller 21
4, the write / read controller 212 directly sends the data in the main memory 206 to the D /
Output to A interface 215. Here, the D / A interface 215 transmits the synchronization signal to the video read controller 2
The image information supplied from the memory 14 is output from the memory 206 to the CRT 300 as an analog signal. This allows the CRT
An image is displayed above.

Here, when a display display color information designation command is input from the key input board 210, the CPU 207 cuts off all control of the main memory 206 from data in the main memory 206.

Next, an address area as position information specified by the light pen interface 211 is held in the RAM space of the memory 208 under the control of the CPU 207. Thereafter, the color conversion of the area specified by the light pen is performed by the color conversion key input of the key input board 210.

As an example, a case will be described where the R region indicated by R in the display image shown in FIG. 4 is converted from R to B. First,
When the points A and B are read with the light pen, the write / read controller 212 reads the R area 206a of the main memory.
The image data from address A to address B is transferred to the buffer memory 213. When the data transfer to the buffer memory 213 is completed, the transferred image data is
The transfer to the B memory 206c is started by an image data transfer start command from the CPU 207. When the transfer of the image data is completed, an end signal is sent to the CPU 207 by the controller 21.
Supplied from 2.

Next, when an image creation command is input from the key input board 210, the CPU 207 sends a write / read controller 21
The read command is output to 2. At this time, in the color image recording apparatus 400, the beam detect signal BD is detected, and this signal BD is input to the write / read controller 212, and the output operation of the image data in the main memory 206 is started accordingly. You. Here, image data output from the main memory 206 is started by an image leading edge detection signal. That is, the CPU 456 sends the image leading edge detection signal for B to the write / read controller 455, thereby
Sends an address signal to the main memory 206. With the output of the address signal, the image data for B is transferred from the main memory 206c to the image signal processing unit for B 450a. Here, the transferred image data is compared with the comparator 451.
Is compared with a threshold value in the dither ROM 452 and binarized. The content of the dither ROM can be changed by instructing the dither area to the dither controller 453 under the control of the main CPU 207.

The binary image data output from the comparator 451 is written into the buffer memory 454 by a transfer signal sent from the main memory 206. Further, the image data is read from the buffer memory 454 by a color image transfer signal synchronized with the signal BD from the B beam detector 435 for color image processing.

The output B (blue) signal is
The laser beam is emitted from the (blue) laser oscillator 404 as a blink signal of laser light, and is scanned by the scanner 407 in a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction of the photoconductor 408. This laser beam is irradiated on the beam detector 435 for B, and thereby the signal B
D is output. The latent image formed on the photoreceptor surface by the blue signal is developed by a blue developing device 414.

Next, the green image signal is transmitted to the green laser oscillator 40.
The laser light is output from 3, a latent image is formed on the photoconductor 408 by the scanner 406, and then developed by the developing device 415. Similarly, the red image signal is output as a laser beam from the oscillator 402, a latent image is formed on the photoconductor 408 by the scanner 405, and is developed by the developing device 416.

To explain the surface potential of the photoreceptor during image formation, as shown in FIG. 5, in the step (I), the photoreceptor is charged so that the surface potential becomes about 600V.

In the process of the (II), the B laser beam L ₁ first electrostatic latent image is formed, to attenuate the surface potential of about 50V at the exposed bright portion at this time.

In the step (III), for example, magnet brush development is performed using a two-component developer in which a blue toner and an iron powder carrier are mixed. At this time, developing means such as a magnet sleeve
Reversal development is performed while applying a bias voltage of, for example, about 200 V to 414.

In the (IV) step, the charger 410 applies 1
A weak charge having the same polarity as the next charge is performed. This secondary charging increases the unexposed potential of the photoconductor by about +50 V to about 300 V. As a result, the photoconductor surface is charged to about 80V.

In a (V) step, giving a weak exposure L ₀ from the exposure source 412 to the photosensitive member surface, the non-development portion potential to + 600V.

In the first (VI) step, the photoreceptor is exposed by the laser beam L ₂ G, and the second latent image is formed.

In the step (VII), the green insulating toner T2 is developed by a jumping developing method. In the second development, the magnet sleeve is provided with an alternating electric field of DC30.
Development is performed by applying a bias voltage of 0V.

In the step (VIII), similarly to the step (IV), the charger 411 performs weak charging having the same polarity as the primary charging.

In the first (IX) step, a first (V) process and non-developed portion giving a weak exposure L ₄ of the same exposure light source 413 to 600V.

In the first step (X), by exposing the photosensitive member surface than L ₃ to R laser beam, to form a third latent image.

In the (XI) step, the red insulating toner T3 is developed by a jumping developing method. In the third development, development is performed by applying a bias voltage of 400 V DC to an alternating electric field to the magnet sleeve.

By the above-described steps, the color visible image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor is transferred to copy paper 418 or 419 conveyed from cassette 420 or 421 and fixed via fixing device 432. In this way, the copy paper having the color image recorded on the surface is discharged onto the discharge tray 434.

The color image recording apparatus 400 is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but may be, for example, a four-drum color copier, a one-drum multiplex color copier, or an inkjet printer. .

Effects As described above, according to the embodiments of the present invention, on a color image, a region where the first color forming the color image is to be converted into the second color is specified, and a color image in the specified region is formed. Since the first color to be converted is converted into the second color, color conversion can be performed only in a desired area on the color image.

Also, since the present invention specifies an area to be color-converted as an area determined by specifying a point on a color image, by tracing on the color image with a point pen, compared to changing the color of the tracing part on an area basis The operability is greatly improved when performing color conversion.

In addition, since a processing area can be designated on a color image, erroneous operations can be prevented.

Further, since the converted color image signals are sequentially output according to the color of the color material used for forming the color image, the color image can be formed satisfactorily.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing write timing to a memory, and FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a color conversion operation on a CRT display, and FIGS. 5 (I) to (XI) are diagrams showing a photoconductor surface potential in an image forming step. 100 imaging device 200 image controller 201 signal processing circuit 202 A / D conversion processing circuit 203 writing controller 204 line memory 205 DMA controller 206a, 206b, 206c …… Main memory, 207 …… Central control unit (CPU), 208 …… Memory, 209 …… Key I / O, 210 …… Key input board, 211 …… Interface, 212 …… Controller, 213 …… Buffer memory , 214 ... Video read controller, 215 ... D / A interface. 300 CRT display 400 Color image recorder 401 Image processing unit 402,403,404 Laser oscillator 405,406,407 Scanner 408 Photoconductor 409 Primary charger 410,411 Secondary charging 412, 413: Exposure light source, 414, 415, 416: Developing device, 417: Transfer charger, 435, 436, 437: Beam detector. 401 Image processing units 450a, 450b, 450c Signal processing unit 451 Comparator 452 Dither ROM 453 Dither controller 454 Buffer memory 455 Controller 456 CPU , 457: Output I / O, 458: Input I / O, 459: Memory, 460, 461, 462: Image tip detector.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An image processing apparatus having a function of converting a color of a desired area of an input color image and outputting the converted color image, comprising: input means for inputting a color image signal representing a color image; Display means for displaying the color image in accordance with the color image signal input by the means; and an area determined by a point designation on the color image displayed by the display means for displaying a first color constituting the color image. Area specifying means for specifying as an area to be converted to a second color; converting means for converting the first color constituting a color image in the area specified by the area specifying means to a second color; Output means for sequentially outputting a color image signal representing a color image converted by the conversion means in accordance with the color of a color material used for forming a color image. Apparatus.