JP6135440B2 - Image processing apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present disclosure relates to an image processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus that perform shift processing on image data.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image processing apparatuses that perform various processes on image data acquired from a scanner or the like have been proposed. For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-109856 (Patent Document 1) discloses a circuit that performs rotation processing of image data and an image processing apparatus having the circuit. In this circuit, the required memory capacity is reduced by dividing the image data into blocks and executing the rotation process.

  Some conventional image processing apparatuses process compressed image data using a shift computing unit. In such an image processing apparatus, the image data of each rectangular area (block) divided from the image data is compressed, then decompressed by the decompressor, and then subjected to a logical operation (AND / OR / OVERLAY by the shift operator). ) Is applied. Then, the shift calculator writes the data after the calculation process in the memory area.

JP 2005-109856 A

  In the conventional image processing apparatus, the shift computing unit determines the data amount of one writing, such as 64 bits, in relation to the type of memory at the writing destination (for example, DDR (Double-Data-Rate)). In some cases, the value of In such a case, the shift computing unit writes image data larger than the size of the decompressed image data into the output destination memory area in one writing. Therefore, the shift computing unit needs to read the image data from the output destination memory, perform a logical operation between the read image data and the decompressed image data, and then write the data to the output destination memory area. There is. At this time, the data read from the output destination memory is obtained by adding a predetermined extended portion (for example, 64 dots) to the original expanded image data (the data of the above-mentioned block expanded by the expander). . For example, in order to realize a shift of 1 dot to 63 dots, the shift computing unit expands the image data of the area corresponding to the decompressed image data from the output destination memory and the up / down / left / right extended parts of the image data of the area. The data of the area expanded by (+64 bits) is read (Read), and the result of the logical operation (AND / OR / OVERWRITE) of the read data and the expanded image data is written in the output destination memory.

  Here, the image processing apparatus may include a plurality of shift computing units in order to improve the processing speed. In such a case, if the amount of data to be written once in each shift computing unit is specified, it is assumed that data loss may occur in the output destination memory when the decompressed data in the adjacent image area is written. The When multiple shift computing units that write decompressed data to adjacent areas in the output destination memory perform processing simultaneously, part of the areas to be written and read by these shift computing units in the output destination memory This is because of overlapping. That is, it is assumed that an image loss occurs due to an output image of one shift arithmetic unit being overwritten with an output image of another shift arithmetic unit that performs processing simultaneously.

  The present disclosure has been devised in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to avoid a situation in which image loss occurs while improving the speed of image processing in the image processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus.

  According to a certain aspect, two or more shift arithmetic units that execute shift arithmetic processing for each of a plurality of portions in image data to be processed, a memory for outputting data after image processing in each shift arithmetic unit, 2 In the image processing apparatus including the control device for controlling the operation of the shift arithmetic unit, the shift arithmetic unit stores image data corresponding to a region extended by a predetermined extension portion from the memory from the memory. It is configured to generate image data for writing by performing logical operation processing using the read image data and the image data after the partial shift operation processing, and write the image data for writing into the memory. The control device is provided for each shift computing unit depending on the operation of two or more shift computing units among a plurality of parts. The portion that is spaced at least extended portion than to the portion to be processed, and is configured to execute the shift operation processing.

  Preferably, the image data to be processed is generated by scanning the image, and the control device preferentially selects a portion of each of the shift computing units from a portion close to the head in the sub-scanning direction of scanning. It is configured to be processed.

  Preferably, the image data includes data of two or more colors, and the shift calculator accepts data of two or more colors of each portion as an input for one shift calculation process.

  Preferably, the image data includes data of one or more colors, and the shift calculator accepts the image data of each part as an input for one shift calculation process for each color.

  Preferably, the shift computing unit is further configured to have a function of rotation processing, trimming processing, or mask processing on the image data.

  Preferably, the image data to be processed is further subjected to predetermined processing, and further provided with two or more data processors that are output to each shift computing unit, and each of the two or more data processors is assigned to each shift computing unit. Correspondingly, each data processor outputs data after predetermined processing to a shift arithmetic unit corresponding to the data processor.

  Preferably, the data processor is a data decompressor, the image data to be processed is compressed image data, and the data processor decompresses the compressed image data of each portion, and then performs the data processing. Output to the corresponding shift calculator.

  According to another aspect, there is provided an image forming apparatus including an image processing apparatus for processing image data and an image output apparatus that outputs an image using the image data processed by the image processing apparatus. Includes two or more shift arithmetic units that execute shift arithmetic processing on each of a plurality of portions in image data to be processed, a memory for outputting data after image processing in each shift arithmetic unit, and two or more shifts A shift operation unit that reads image data corresponding to a region extended by a predetermined extension portion from the portion from the memory, and the read image data and the control device for controlling the operation of the calculator Image data for writing is generated by performing logical operation processing using the image data after the partial shift operation processing, and the image for writing is generated. The control device is configured to write data to the memory, and the control device provides each shift computing unit with respect to a portion to be processed by a plurality of shift computing units that are in operation among two or more shift computing units. The shift operation processing is executed for at least a portion that is separated from the extended portion, and the image output device outputs an image using the image data that has been written by the shift calculator.

  According to the present disclosure, in the image processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus, it is possible to avoid a situation in which image loss occurs while improving the speed of image processing.

2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a hardware configuration of an MFP (Multi-Functional Peripheral). FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). It is a figure for demonstrating the function of a compressor. It is a figure for demonstrating the function of a shift calculator. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation timing of two shift calculators. It is a figure which shows typically arrangement | positioning in the image formed of the image data written on the submemory. It is a figure which shows typically arrangement | positioning in the image formed of the image data written on the submemory. It is a figure which shows typically arrangement | positioning in the image formed of the image data written on the submemory. It is a figure which shows an example of job information typically. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining information on the orientation of a sheet. It is a figure for demonstrating the direction of a document. It is a figure for demonstrating the setting content of a shift setting. It is a figure for demonstrating the content of the trimming setting. It is a figure for demonstrating the content of a mask setting. It is a figure which shows an example of image data management information typically. It is a figure which shows an example of the original document divided | segmented into the several block. It is a figure which shows an example of expansion | extension information. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between a document image block and a post-decompression block when a setting value of a rotation angle in a job is “90 degrees”. It is a figure which shows an example of operation information. It is a flowchart of an image formation process. It is a flowchart of an image formation process. It is a flowchart of an image formation process. It is a figure for demonstrating two Examples about compression of color image data. It is a figure which shows the modification of a compressed data storage address. It is a figure for demonstrating two Examples about expansion | extension of color image data.

  Hereinafter, an image processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the component which show | plays the same effect | action and function, and the description is not repeated.

[MFP configuration]
An MFP that is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a hardware configuration of the MFP.

  1 includes an ASIC 1, an operation control unit 2, a user IF (interface) 3, a main memory 4, a network IF 5, an IR (image reader) 6, a printer 7, and a sub memory 8. In the MFP 10, these elements are connected to each other by a bus (PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus, local bus, etc.). In the present embodiment, an example of an image processing apparatus is shown by the operation control unit 2 and the ASIC 1.

  The operation control unit 2 includes an arithmetic device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and controls the operation of the ASIC 1. More specifically, the operation control unit 2 controls the operation of the ASIC 1 by rewriting the register of the ASIC 1.

  In the MFP 10, the IR 6 reads an image and generates image data (original data). The ASIC 1 compresses the original data generated by the IR 6 and stores it in the main memory 4. The ASIC 1 further decompresses the data (original data after compression) stored in the main memory 4, performs image processing for each print job, and stores it in the sub-memory 8. Then, the ASIC 1 outputs the data after image processing to the printer 7. The printer 7 forms and outputs an image based on the data input from the ASIC 1. As a result, the MFP 10 outputs the image input in the IR 6 from the printer 7.

[Configuration of ASIC]
Next, the configuration of the ASIC 1 in FIG. 1 will be described in more detail. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the ASIC 1.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the ASIC 1 includes an IR input unit 14, N compressors 13-1 to 13-N, N decompressors 12-1 to 12-N, and two shift computing units 11-1. 11-2 and a printer output unit 15. In FIG. 2, a plurality of compressors, a plurality of decompressors, and a plurality of shift calculators are shown. These numbers are not limited to those shown in FIG. In particular, the number of shift calculators is not limited to the number shown in FIG.

  All of the compressors 13-1 to 13-N may have an equivalent configuration. Therefore, in this specification, these may be collectively referred to as “compressor 13”.

  All of the expanders 12-1 to 12-N may have an equivalent configuration. Therefore, in the present specification, these may be collectively referred to as “expander 12”.

  All of the shift computing units 11-1 and 11-2 may have an equivalent configuration. Therefore, in this specification, these may be collectively referred to as “shift arithmetic unit 11”.

  The IR input unit 14 receives image data generated by the IR 6 from the IR 6. Then, the IR input device 14 stores the input image data in the sub memory 8.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the function of the compressor 13. With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the compressor 13 compresses the image data stored in the sub memory 8 and stores the compressed image data in the file memory 41 in the main memory 4. The operation control unit 2 divides the document image 900 into a plurality of blocks as indicated by broken lines. Each of the compressors 13-1 to 13 -N compresses the image data of each block and stores it in the file memory 41. In FIG. 3, the compressed image data of each block is shown as “compressed data (1)” to “compressed data (N)”.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the function of the shift computing unit 11. 2 and 4, each of the decompressors 12-1 and 12-2 decompresses the image data (compressed image data) of different blocks stored in the main memory 4 and performs a shift operation. To each of the devices 11-1 and 11-2 (arrows E1 and E2 in FIG. 4).

  The shift computing unit 11-1 receives the decompressed image data from the decompressor 12-1, and reads out the image data corresponding to the image data from the sub memory 8 ("Read" in FIG. 4, arrow R1). ). The image data to be read out is image data corresponding to the same area as the area where the image data expanded in the document is, and image data of an extended portion with respect to the “image data corresponding to the same area”. The shift calculator 11-1 stores the image data read from the sub memory 8 and the image data input from the decompressor 12 in a buffer. Then, the shift computing unit 11-1 uses the two image data stored in the buffer to perform operations (shift operation and logical operation (AND / OR / OVERWRITE) according to the setting of the job to which the image data belongs. )). Then, the shift calculator 11-1 writes the image data obtained as a result of the calculation into the sub memory 8 (“WRITE” in FIG. 4, arrow W1).

  Similarly to the shift calculator 11-1, the shift calculator 11-2 receives the image data from the decompressor 12-2 and reads the image data from the sub memory 8 (“READ” in FIG. 4, arrow R2). Then, the arithmetic processing is executed, and the image data after the arithmetic processing is written in the sub memory 8 (“WRITE” in FIG. 4, arrow W2).

  Image data DA10 in FIG. 4 is compressed image data in the main memory 4 that is expanded by the expander 12-1. The image data DA20 is compressed image data in the main memory 4 that is expanded by the expander 12-2.

  In addition, areas AR11 and AR21 indicate image areas indicating the image data after expansion sent from the decompressors 12-1 and 12-2 to the shift computing units 11-1 and 11-2. . Each of the areas AR12 and AR22 is an area obtained by adding the above-described extension portion to each of the areas AR11 and AR21. Each of the areas AR11 and AR21 indicates an area after the decompressed data of the image data DA10 and DA20 is shifted. The shift amount in the main scanning direction (right direction in FIG. 4) is “SR01”. The shift amount in the sub-scanning direction (downward in FIG. 4) is “SD01”.

  A read area and a write area for image data by the shift computing unit 11-1 in the sub memory 8 are indicated by an area AR14. In addition, a read area and a write area for image data by the shift computing unit 11-2 in the sub memory 8 are indicated by an area AR24. Each of the areas AR14 and AR24 corresponds to each of the areas AR12 and AR22. Each of the areas AR13 and AR23 in the areas AR14 and AR24 corresponds to each of the areas AR11 and AR21.

  In the decompression of the compressed data described in FIG. 4, the point corresponding to the point P11 of the image data DA10 is the point P12 in the area AR11 and the point P13 in the area AR13. The point corresponding to the point P21 of the image data DA20 is the point P22 in the area AR21 and the point P23 in the area AR23.

  The sub-memory 8 is a type of memory that limits the data amount of one-time data writing by the shift computing unit 11 to a predetermined amount (for example, 64 bits), such as DDR. From this, the data amount of one-time writing of the image data from the shift computing units 11-1 and 11-2 to the sub memory 8 is a predetermined amount (for example, 64 bits).

[Setting of processing target block]
The setting of the block to be processed by each shift computing unit 11 when a plurality of shift computing units 11 are used for writing image data to the sub memory 8 in the MFP 10 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the shift computing unit 11 writes the image data of the extended portion for the block in addition to the image data of a certain block in the sub memory 8 by one writing. Therefore, when two or more shift computing units 11 that handle image data adjacent to a block to be written perform writing simultaneously, the extended portions to be processed of the two or more shift computing units 11 are simultaneously The above shift arithmetic unit 11 can be a target of writing and reading. This will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of operation timings of the two shift calculators 11. Each of FIGS. 6 to 8 is a diagram schematically showing the arrangement of image data written on the sub memory 8 in the formed image.

  In FIG. 5, the operation state of the shift computing unit 11-1 is indicated by a line L1. The operation state of the shift computing unit 11-2 is indicated by a line L2. Each operation state of the shift computing units 11-1 and 11-2 is indicated by “High” or “Low”. “High” indicates a state in which image data reading and writing operations are being performed. “Low” indicates a state in which these operations are not executed.

  In the example shown in FIG. 5, first, the operating states of both the shift computing unit 11-1 and the shift computing unit 11-2 are “Low”. At time T1, the operation state of the shift computing unit 11-2 becomes “High”. That is, the shift computing unit 11-2 starts an operation (for a certain block). Thereafter, at time T2, the operation state of the shift computing unit 11-1 becomes “High”. That is, the shift computing unit 11-1 starts an operation (for another block). Thereafter, at time T3, the shift computing unit 11-2 finishes the operation (the operation state is “Low”). Thereafter, at time T4, the shift computing unit 11-1 finishes the operation (the operation state is “Low”). That is, in the example shown in FIG. 5, both the shift computing unit 11-1 and the shift computing unit 11-2 operate from time T2 to time T3.

  The image area to be processed by the shift computing unit 11-1 and the image area to be processed by the shift computing unit 11-2 are adjacent to each other as shown as the area AR13 and the area AR14 in FIG. Problems that may occur at this time will be described with reference to FIGS.

  When the shift computing unit 11-1 and the shift computing unit 11-2 operate at the timing shown in FIG. 5, when the time T1 arrives, the area AR24 is processed in the sub memory 8 as shown in FIG. It becomes. Thereafter, when the time T2 arrives, as shown in FIG. 7, in the sub memory 8, the area AR23 is further processed. The area AR23 in the area AR24 (broken line) and the area AR13 in the area AR14 (two-dot chain line) are adjacent to each other. The area AR24 is located on the outer edge of the area AR23. The area AR14 is located at the outer edge of the area AR13. Accordingly, the area AR23 and the area AR24 partially overlap. Among the overlapping portions, in the portion included in the area AR23, the image data previously written by the shift computing unit 11-2 (the image data of the hatched portion in FIG. 7) is the shift computing unit 11-. There is a possibility that an image is lost due to being overwritten by 1 or the like.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, when writing image data to the sub-memory 8, each shift calculation is performed so that areas to be processed by two or more shift calculators 11 operating simultaneously in the generated image do not overlap. A region to be processed by the vessel 11 is determined. More specifically, when the shift computing unit 11 starts a new operation, the operation control unit 2 starts from a region (block and its extended portion) that is already processed by another shift computing unit 11 that is already operating. A block that is more than the extended portion is set as a processing target of the new shift computing unit 11.

  For example, when an image is processed by being divided into blocks as shown in FIG. 3, the operation control unit 2 determines that another block separated from the region to be processed by the shift calculator 11 in operation by an extended portion or more. Is a processing target of the newly operated shift computing unit 11. The positional relationship between the area to be processed by the shift computing unit 11 in operation and the block to be processed by the newly operating shift computing unit 11 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 8, the area to be processed by the shift calculator 11 in operation is indicated by an area AR24. Of the area AR24, the area AR23 is an area corresponding to one block of the document image, and the other areas are areas corresponding to an extended portion of the block. The area AR34 is an area to be processed by the shift calculator 11 that operates anew. Of the area AR34, the area AR34 is an area corresponding to one block of the document image, and the other areas are areas corresponding to an extended portion of the block.

  The condition for selecting the area AR34 is that the end of the area AR33 in the area AR34 is more than the extended portion in both the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction than the end of the area AR23 in the area AR24. It is.

[Image forming operation]
Next, a printing operation that is an example of an image forming operation in the MFP 10 will be described.

<Job management>
In the print operation, the MFP 10 forms an image on a sheet or the like in the printer 7 and outputs the image. When the execution of such a printing operation (print job) is instructed, the MFP 10 generates information (job information) for managing a newly started job. FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of job information. The job information is stored, for example, in a non-volatile memory provided in the operation control unit 2.

  As shown in FIG. 9, job information includes job number (job No.), page number, page information, document size, document orientation, output paper size, shift setting, trimming setting, and management items related to the job. Includes mask settings.

“Job No.” is a serial number of a job executed in the MFP 10.
“Number of pages” is the number of pages of the document in the job to be executed.

  “Page information” is information for specifying image data of each page of the document, and is, for example, a serial number assigned to the image data of each page. In the MFP 10, for example, the compressed image data of each page of the document in the file memory 41 is specified by the serial number (image data management information No.) attached to the image data of each page. The page information corresponds to information in information (image data management information) for managing compressed image data corresponding to each page of the document, which will be described later with reference to FIG.

  “Original size” is the paper size of the original. The paper size includes paper orientation information in addition to the paper size such as “A4”. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the information on the paper orientation. As shown in FIG. 10, information on the orientation of the paper includes “Sef” (original 911 in FIG. 10) in which the dimension in the sub-scanning direction of the paper is longer than the dimension in the main scanning direction, and the main scanning of the paper It includes “Lef” (document 912 in FIG. 10) whose dimension in the direction is longer than the dimension in the sub-scanning direction.

  “Original orientation” indicates the orientation of the original. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the orientation of the document. This includes a “portrait” (original 921 in FIG. 11) in which the original is vertically long when the image of the original is erected, and a “landscape” (original 922 in FIG. 11) in which the original is horizontally long.

  The “output paper size” includes paper orientation information (“Sef” and “Lef”) described with reference to FIG. 10 in addition to the size of the paper on which the output image is formed. The setting value of “Output paper size” is equal to the setting value of “Original paper size” when the original is output at the same magnification, and the output magnification of the original is set to a value other than 1.0. Is different from the set value of “paper size of document”.

  “Shift setting” is setting information about the direction and amount to be shifted when outputting an image of a document. In the example shown in FIG. 9, “shift setting” includes a setting value in the main scanning direction and a setting value in the sub-scanning direction. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the setting contents of the shift setting. In FIG. 12, the main scanning direction is defined in the horizontal direction, and the sub-scanning direction is defined in the vertical direction. In the example shown in FIG. 12, the image 930 is an image on the output paper. In the example shown in FIG. 12, the shift amount in the main scanning direction is x (mm), and the shift amount in the sub-scanning direction is y (mm). According to such setting, for example, the image of the point P01 in the document is positioned at the point P02 on the output paper.

  “Trimming setting” is a setting of a region to be trimmed at the time of output in a document. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the contents of trimming settings. FIG. 13 shows a setting for trimming the region 941 in the document 940. The contents of the setting include, for example, the upper left coordinate (“start point (i, j)” in FIG. 13) and the lower right coordinate (“end point (x, y)” in FIG. 13) of the region to be trimmed. Including.

  “Mask setting” is a setting of an area to be masked at the time of output in an original. FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the contents of the mask setting. FIG. 14 shows a setting for masking an area 951 in the document 950. The contents of the setting include, for example, the upper left coordinates (“start point (i, j)” in FIG. 14) and lower right coordinates (“end point (x, y)” in FIG. 14) of the area to be masked. Including.

<Management of image data>
Information for managing compressed image data (image data management information) will be described. The image data management information is defined for each page of the document. FIG. 15 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of image data management information. The image data management information is stored, for example, in a non-volatile memory provided in the operation control unit 2.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the image data management information includes an image data management information number (image data management information No.), a job number (job No.), a page number (page No.), an image data size, a resolution, Includes color and compressed data storage address.

  “Image data management information No.” is information for specifying a page stored in the file memory 41 in the document.

  “Job No.” is the serial number of the job to which the page stored in the file memory 41 belongs, and corresponds to “job information” in the job information of FIG.

  “Page No.” indicates how many pages correspond to the page corresponding to the image data management information of FIG. 15 in the job to which the page belongs.

  “Image data size” indicates the size of the image data of the page corresponding to the image data management information of FIG.

  “Resolution” indicates the resolution of the image data of the page corresponding to the image data management information of FIG.

  “Color” indicates the color component of the image data of the page corresponding to the image data management information of FIG. In FIG. 15, Y indicates yellow. M represents magenta. C represents cyan. K represents black.

  The “compressed data storage address” indicates the storage location in the file memory 41 of the image data of the page corresponding to the image data management information of FIG. In FIG. 15, the “compressed data storage address” includes a storage location for each block. The division of a document into a plurality of blocks will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a document divided into a plurality of blocks.

  As shown in FIG. 16, when the image data 900 is processed in the MFP 10, the document image 900 is divided into a plurality of blocks and handled as data for each block, as indicated by broken lines. In the “compressed data storage address”, each block is specified by the arrangement of each block in the document. More specifically, each block has coordinates using the position in the main scanning direction (left and right direction in FIG. 16) and the position in the sub scanning direction (up and down direction in FIG. 16), that is, (position in the main scanning direction). , Position in the sub-scanning direction).

  In FIG. 16, for example, “block (0, 1)” means a block located first in the main scanning direction and second in the sub-scanning direction in the document image 900.

<Settings related to decompression processing>
In the MFP 10, the decompressor 12 and the shift calculator 11 process the image data based on the setting content (decompression information) related to the decompression process. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of decompression information. The decompression information is stored in, for example, a non-volatile memory provided in the operation control unit 2.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the decompression information includes decompression information number (decompression information No.), job number (job No.), page number (page No.), image data management information number (image data management information No. ), Rotation angle, image data size, shift setting, trimming setting, mask setting, and block information.

  Extension information No. Is a serial number of the decompression information. The decompression information is set for each page in the job.

Job No. Is a serial number of a job executed in the MFP 10.
Page No. Is a serial number in the job to which the page corresponding to the decompression information belongs (hereinafter also referred to as “corresponding job”).

Image data management information No. Is a serial number assigned to the image data of each page.
The rotation angle is a rotation angle set in the job information (see FIG. 9) of the corresponding job.

The image data size is the size of the image data of the page corresponding to the decompression information.
Each of the shift setting, trimming setting, and mask setting is a value of “shift setting”, “trimming setting”, and “mask setting” set in the job information of the corresponding job (see FIG. 9).

  The block information is information for managing the progress of decompression processing and arithmetic processing for each of a plurality of blocks belonging to the page to which the decompression information corresponds. The block information includes a post-decompression block, a document image block, and decompression execution information. The document image block specifies each of a plurality of blocks set for the document as shown in FIG. The decompressed block is set for data after decompression of each block of the document image block. In the example of FIG. 17, the decompressed block is specified in a coordinate format that specifies the position in the main scanning direction and the position in the sub-scanning direction, like the document image block. The decompression execution information indicates whether or not the decompression process for each block has been completed. “Not yet” indicates that it is not yet a target for decompression processing. “Completed” indicates that the decompression process has been completed. Note that the decompression execution information of the block in which decompression processing is being performed is “in progress”.

  The relationship between the original image block and the post-decompression block may change depending on, for example, the value of the rotation angle set in the job information. FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the original image block and the decompressed block when the setting value of the rotation angle in the job is “90 degrees”.

  In FIG. 18, an image 901 indicates a document image. An image 902 indicates an image that is output after the image 901 is rotated 90 degrees according to the job information. In FIG. 18, the block number in the main scanning direction and the block number in the sub-scanning direction are shown in association with the image 901 and the image 902, respectively.

  As understood from FIG. 18, the block number of each block in the original image (image 901) is different from the block number of each block in the output image (image 902). For example, the block (0, 0) in the document image corresponds to the block (0, 4) in the output image. The block (1, 1) in the document image corresponds to the block (1, 3) in the output image.

<Operation management of decompressor / shift calculator>
In the MFP 10, the operations of the plurality of decompressors 12 and the plurality of shift calculators 11 are managed using information (operation information) stored in a nonvolatile memory provided in the operation control unit 2. FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of operation information.

  In the MFP 10, to which (which) shift computing unit 11 each decompressor 12 outputs data is fixed. In the operation information of FIG. 19, each of the plurality of decompressors 12 is associated with the shift operation unit 11 that is the output destination of the data decompressed by each decompressor 12. More specifically, half of the N decompressors 12 provided in the MFP 10 (herein referred to as M) is associated with the shift computing unit 11-1. The remaining half of the N decompressors 12 provided in the MFP 10 is associated with the shift computing unit 11-2. In FIG. 19, each decompressor 12 and each shift calculator 11 are indicated by reference numerals in FIG. 2.

  In FIG. 19, the operation state at that time of the decompressor 12 and the shift calculator 11 associated therewith is registered as “operation information”. When the decompressor 12 and the shift calculator 11 are performing an operation, the value of the operation state is “in operation”. When the decompression operation is not executed, the value of the operation state is “stop”. In FIG. 19, at least that the expander 12-1 and the shift calculator 11-1 are operating, the expander 12-2 is not operating, and the expander 12-N and the shift calculator 11 -2 is not active.

  As will be described later with reference to FIGS. 20 to 22, the operation control unit 2 performs the operation information of FIG. 19 according to the operation status of the plurality of decompressors 12 and the plurality of shift calculators 11 in the image forming process. Update the content as appropriate.

[Image formation processing]
The MFP 10 outputs, from the printer 7, an image whose compressed data is stored in the file memory 41 (see FIG. 2). Here, processing (image forming processing) executed in the MFP 10 for outputting the image will be described with reference mainly to FIGS. 20 to 22 are flowcharts of the image forming process. The image forming process in FIGS. 20 to 22 is executed for each page for a job being executed, for example.

  The operation control unit 2 of the MFP 10 executes an image forming job when an instruction to execute the job is input from the external device to the MFP 10 or an instruction to start the job is input to the user IF 3. Start. In the image forming job, the operation control unit 2 sets pages to be subjected to image forming processing in order from the first page included in the job being executed. When the target page is set, the operation control unit 2 starts an image forming process for the page.

  First, referring to FIG. 20, in step S10, the operation control unit 2 generates decompression information (see FIG. 17) according to job information (see FIG. 9) instructed to start. And control is advanced to step S20.

  In step S20, the operation control unit 2 refers to the decompression information (see FIG. 17), and determines whether or not there is a block for which decompression processing has not yet been executed (the decompression execution information value is “not yet”). . If it is determined that such a block exists (YES in step S20), operation controller 2 advances the control to step S30. On the other hand, when determining that such a block does not exist (NO in step S20), operation controller 2 advances the control to step S180.

  In step S180, the operation control unit 2 deletes the decompression information generated in step S10 from the nonvolatile memory described above, and ends the image forming process. If an unoutput page remains in the job being executed, the image forming process for the next page is executed. If no unoutput page remains in the job being executed, the job ends.

  In step S30, the operation control unit 2 determines whether there is an expander 12 whose operation is stopped among the expanders 12-1 to 12-N. More specifically, the motion control unit 2 determines whether or not there is an expander 12 whose “motion state” value is “stop” in the motion information (see FIG. 19). If the operation control unit 2 determines that such an expander 12 is present (YES in step S30), the control proceeds to step S40. If the operation control unit 2 determines that there is no such expander 12 (NO in step S30), the control proceeds to step S150 (see FIG. 22).

  In step S40, the operation control unit 2 selects the first one of the decompressors 12 that are stopped. “Top” means that, for example, when numbers are sequentially assigned to the decompressors 12-1 to 12-N, the numbers are the smallest. And control is advanced to step S50.

  In step S50, the operation control unit 2 refers to the block information of the decompression information (see FIG. 17), and selects the block at the head in the main scanning direction (most main scanning) from among the blocks not yet subjected to decompression processing. Select the block with the smallest block number in the direction). And control is advanced to step S60. “Band” in FIG. 20 is synonymous with “block number”.

  In step S60, the operation control unit 2 refers to the block information of the decompression information (see FIG. 17), and selects a block that has not yet been subject to decompression processing from the blocks (bands) selected in step S50. The block at the head in the main scanning direction is selected from among them (the block with the smallest block number in the main scanning direction). Then, the control proceeds to step S70.

  In step S <b> 70, the operation control unit 2 sets a block from which decompression processing will be performed and a decompressor 12 that performs the decompression processing. In other words, the operation control unit 2 sets the decompression unit 12 selected in step S50 to decompress the block selected in step S60. Then, the control proceeds to step S80 (see FIG. 21).

  In step S80, the operation control unit 2 refers to the operation information (see FIG. 19) and determines whether there is a shift calculator 11 that is currently executing the operation. If it is determined that there is a shift calculator 11 that is executing an operation (YES in step S80), operation controller 2 advances the control to step S90. If it is determined that there is no shift calculator 11 that is executing the operation (NO in step S80), the operation control unit 2 advances the control to step S130.

  In step S90, the motion control unit 2 refers to the motion information (see FIG. 19) and identifies a block (decompression block) that is a processing target of the shift calculator 11 that is operating. Then, control proceeds to step S100.

  In step S100, the operation control unit 2 determines whether or not the block set in step S70 is separated from the block specified in step S90 by the extension portion or more with respect to the writing position of the sub memory 8. This determination corresponds to the determination described with reference to FIG. If it is determined that the distance is greater than or equal to the extended portion (YES in step S100), operation controller 2 advances the control to step S130. On the other hand, if it is determined that the distance is not greater than the extended portion (NO in step S100), operation control unit 2 advances control to step S110.

  In step S110, the operation control unit 2 refers to the block information of the decompression information (see FIG. 17) and selects the next block that has not yet been subject to decompression processing. The “next block” is a block that has not been subjected to decompression processing yet, and has the smallest block number in the main scanning direction among the smallest block numbers in the sub scanning direction. In step S110, the operation control unit 2 changes the block set as the decompression target in step S70 to the block selected in step S110. Then, the control proceeds to step S120.

  In step S120, the operation control unit 2 determines whether or not there is a block that matches the above condition in step S110. If it is determined that there is such a block (YES in step S120), operation control unit 2 returns control to step S80. On the other hand, when determining that there is no such block (NO in step S120), operation controller 2 advances the control to step S150 (see FIG. 22).

  In step S130, the operation control unit 2 updates the operation state of the operation information (see FIG. 19) to “in operation” for the expander 12 and the shift calculator 11 set in step S70. Then, control proceeds to step S140.

  In step S140, the operation control unit 2 activates the decompressor 12 and the shift calculator 11 set in step S70 for processing compressed data. The compressed data to be processed is that of the block set in step S70. However, if the target block has been updated in step S110, the compressed data of the updated block becomes the processing target. Then, the control proceeds to step S150 (see FIG. 22).

  Referring to FIG. 22, in step S150, operation control unit 2 determines whether or not the completion of the operation of expander 12 that has been operating has been detected. If the completion of the operation of the expander 12 in operation is not detected, the operation control unit 2 continues the determination in step S150. If the completion of the operation of the decompressor 12 is detected, the operation control unit 2 advances the control to step S160.

  In step S160, the operation control unit 2 completes the decompression of the decompressor 12 and the shift calculator 11 that were being executed. Then, control proceeds to step S170.

  In step S <b> 170, the operation control unit 2 changes the value of “operation state” in the operation information (see FIG. 19) for the decompressor 12 and the shift calculator 11 that have completed the operation to “stop”. Control is then returned to step S10 (FIG. 20).

[Example]
In the present embodiment described above, for example, two examples can be considered for handling color image data (for example, YMCK image data). The first embodiment (hereinafter referred to as “embodiment 1”) is an example in which all color data are input to one compressor 13 and input to one decompressor 12. . In the second embodiment (hereinafter referred to as “embodiment 2”), data for each color (Y data, M data, C data, and K data) are input to separate compressors 13, and This is an example of input to separate expanders 12.

Processing contents of data compression and data expansion in the two embodiments will be described.
<Data compression>
FIG. 23 is a diagram for explaining two examples of color image data compression.

  In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 23, image data of four colors of a certain block (data 8Y corresponding to Y color, data 8M corresponding to M color, and C color stored in the sub-memory 8). Corresponding data 8C and data 8K corresponding to K color) are input to one compressor 13 (compressor 13-N in FIG. 23). The compressor 13 outputs one compressed data (compressed data (N)) as output data.

  In the second embodiment, image data of four colors of a block (data 8Y corresponding to Y color, data 8M corresponding to M color, data 8C corresponding to C color, and K stored in the sub-memory 8) Each of the data 8K corresponding to the color is input to four compressors 13 (in FIG. 23, the compressors 13-1, 13-2, 13-3, and 13-4). The compressor 13-1 outputs compressed data (compressed data (NY)) of Y-color image data. The compressor 13-2 outputs compressed data (compressed data (NM)) of M-color image data. The compressor 13-3 outputs compressed data (compressed data (NC)) of C-color image data. The compressor 13-4 outputs compressed data (compressed data (NK)) of K-color image data.

  In the second embodiment, the compressed data storage address of each block of the image data management information (see FIG. 15) includes four storage addresses of color numbers 0 to 3, as shown in FIG. The four storage addresses are storage addresses for compressed data of each color of YMCK.

<Data decompression>
FIG. 25 is a diagram for explaining two examples of decompression of color image data.

  In order to explain the first embodiment, FIG. 25 shows compressed data (N1) and compressed data (N2). Each of the compressed data (N1) and the compressed data (N2) includes information of four colors. Each data is decompressed by the decompressor 12 and then subjected to arithmetic processing by the shift computing unit 11 to output decompressed image data of each of the four colors. Each decompressed image data is written in an area corresponding to each color in the sub memory 8.

  In the example shown in FIG. 25, the compressed data (N1) is expanded by the expander 12-1, and then input to the shift calculator 11-1. From the shift computing unit 11-1, decompressed image data of each of the four colors is output. The compressed data (N2) is expanded by the expander 12-2 and then input to the shift calculator 11-2. The shift computing unit 11-2 outputs decompressed image data of each of the four colors.

  Then, when the shift computing unit 11-1 and the shift computing unit 11-2 perform processing simultaneously, the block to be processed is adjusted as described with reference to FIG.

  In order to explain the second embodiment, FIG. 25 shows compressed data Y, compressed data M, compressed data Y, and compressed data K. The compressed data Y is decompressed by the decompressor 12-1, the compressed data M is decompressed by the decompressor 12-2, the compressed data Y is decompressed by the decompressor 12-3, and the compressed data K is decompressed by the decompressor 12-4. The

  In the example shown in FIG. 25, the data from the expander 12-1 and the expander 12-2 are input to the shift calculator 11-1. Data from the decompressor 12-3 and the decompressor 12-4 is input to the shift computing unit 11-2. Each of the shift arithmetic units 11-1 and 11-2 performs arithmetic processing on the input decompressed data, and then writes it in the area corresponding to the color of each data in the sub memory 8.

  Then, when the shift computing unit 11-1 and the shift computing unit 11-2 perform processing simultaneously, the block to be processed is adjusted as described with reference to FIG.

  Each embodiment disclosed this time must be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  1 ASIC, 2 operation control unit, 4 main memory, 7 printer, 8 sub memory, 10 MFP, 11, 11-1, 11-2 shift arithmetic unit, 12, 12-1 to 12-N decompressor, 13, 13 -1 to 13-N compressor, 14 input device, 15 printer output device, 41 file memory.

Claims (8)

Two or more shift calculators that perform shift calculation processing on each of the plurality of portions in the image data to be processed;
A memory for outputting data after image processing in each of the shift computing units;
An image processing apparatus comprising a control device for controlling operations of the two or more shift computing units,
The shift calculator reads image data corresponding to an area extended by a predetermined extension portion from the portion from the memory, and reads the read image data and image data after the shift calculation processing of the portion. It is configured to generate image data for writing by performing logical operation processing using the image data, and write the image data for writing into the memory,
The control device is arranged such that each shift arithmetic unit is separated by at least the extension portion from the portion that is the object of processing by the operating unit of the two or more shift arithmetic units among the plurality of portions. An image processing apparatus configured to cause shift calculation processing to be performed on a portion that is being processed. The image data to be processed is generated by scanning an image,
2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control device is configured so as to be preferentially processed by each of the shift calculators from a portion close to a head in the sub-scanning direction of the scan among the plurality of portions. Image processing apparatus. The image data includes data of two or more colors,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shift calculator accepts the data of the two or more colors of each of the portions as an input for one shift calculation process. The image data includes data of one or more colors,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shift calculator accepts the image data of each portion as an input for one shift calculation process for each of the colors.   The image according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the shift computing unit is further configured to have a function of rotation processing, trimming processing, or mask processing on image data. Processing equipment. The image data to be processed is further provided with two or more data processors that perform predetermined processing and then output to each of the shift computing units,
Each of the two or more data processors is provided corresponding to each shift arithmetic unit,
6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the data processors outputs the data after the predetermined processing to the shift computing unit to which the data processor corresponds. . The data processor is a data decompressor;
The image data to be processed is compressed image data,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the data processor decompresses the compressed image data of each of the portions and then outputs the decompressed image data to the corresponding shift calculator. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image processing apparatus for processing image data; and an image output apparatus that outputs an image using the image data processed by the image processing apparatus,
The image processing apparatus includes:
Two or more shift calculators that perform shift calculation processing on each of the plurality of portions in the image data to be processed;
A memory for outputting data after image processing in each of the shift computing units;
A control device for controlling the operation of the two or more shift computing units,
The shift calculator reads image data corresponding to an area extended by a predetermined extension portion from the portion from the memory, and reads the read image data and image data after the shift calculation processing of the portion. It is configured to generate image data for writing by performing logical operation processing using the image data, and write the image data for writing into the memory,
The control device is arranged such that each shift arithmetic unit is separated by at least the extension portion from the portion that is the object of processing by the operating unit of the two or more shift arithmetic units among the plurality of portions. It is configured to execute shift calculation processing for the part that is
The image output apparatus outputs an image using the image data that has been written by the shift computing unit.

Images