JPH083850B2 - Image processing device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that performs arithmetic processing on read image information and image information stored in advance.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, as this type of image processing apparatus, an image area is defined on a display screen of a display device such as a CRT in consideration of image editing processing, and an image read by an image reading unit (read image). There is one that is displayed.

However, the conventional image processing apparatus replaces the display screen or obtains a print output each time when it is desired to combine an already read image and a new read image to obtain one image. However, since it becomes necessary to proceed with the processing, there is a problem that the processing efficiency at the time of performing such editing processing such as image composition decreases.

[Object] In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing device having excellent operability in arithmetic processing of read image information and image information stored in advance.

[Examples] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of the image processing apparatus of the present invention. Here, 2 is, for example, a CP in the form of a microprocessor.
U, which performs operations such as character and graphic processing for image processing, logical judgments, etc., and executes the address bus AB, control bus CB, and data bus DB in accordance with the processing procedures described later with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. , Controls each component connected to the buses AB, CB, and DB. The address bus AB is an address signal transfer path for instructing the constituent elements to be controlled by the CPU2, the control bus CB is a control signal transfer path for each constituent element to be controlled by the CPU2, and the data bus DB. Is a data transfer path between the respective constituent devices.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a read-only fixed memory (ROM) which stores control procedures by the CPU 2, such as the processing procedures shown in FIGS. 4 to 7.

A random access memory (RAM) 6 is writable in units of 16 bits per word, and is used for temporary storage of the following various data related to each constituent element. This RAM6
In, the GBUF is a storage area of the image memory, and stores the created image or the binarized image being created as a bitmap. RBUF is an area used as a buffer for the read image, and RCBUF is an image memory area for storage.

HADR is the area that stores the upper left point address of the area on the image memory that corresponds to the image read range specified by the operator and / or the image placement range in the defined image area.HYSIZE and HTSIZE are the specified range. This is an area for storing the number of horizontal dots and the number of vertical dots. RMODE is a reading mode storage memory area, and is designed to store the contents of calculation when image editing is performed according to designation. For example, "1" is stored when the OR processing is performed, and "0" is stored when the overwrite processing is performed.

RFLAG is a start correction used to determine whether or not it is necessary to correct the positional deviation between the index sensor (to be described later) provided on the reading head and the reading sensor when starting reading by moving the reading head or the document. This flag is a flag that is turned on when it is necessary and turned off when it is not needed. Further, CFLAG is a cursor shape flag corresponding to the shape of a cursor used for specifying a range on the image area. For example, in the case of a character-by-character moving cursor that moves in character units, it is turned off and the center of the orthogonal line segment is set. If it is a cross-shaped dot point cursor that indicates 1 dot with, it is turned on.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a keyboard as an input device used by the operator for inputting information. In addition to character symbol input keys such as alphabet keys, hiragana keys, katakana keys, Kanji part start / end designation keys, range designation used for range designation described later. Key, reading mode key that specifies the reading mode, reading start key that specifies the start of image reading, end key that specifies the end of processing, interrupt key that gives a command to suspend image reading, command to stop reading It has various function keys such as a stop key for instructing various functions for image processing.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a disk device for accessing a magnetic disk as an external storage for storing documents and images, and a keyboard 8
By inputting an operation instruction using, the storage of appropriately created documents and images and the reading of the stored documents and images are controlled.

Reference numeral 12 is an image input / output device, and as will be described later with reference to FIG. 2, in this example, a printer for image recording and a reading device for image reading are integrally assembled.

Reference numeral 14 is a cursor register, the contents of which can be read and written by the CPU 2. Further, the display controller 18 displays a cursor at the position on the display device 20 corresponding to the address stored in the cursor register 14.

Reference numeral 16 is a buffer memory corresponding to the display screen of the display device 20, and stores document information input from the keyboard 8 and read image information.

The display controller 18 displays the contents stored in the cursor register 14 and the buffer memory 16 on the display device 20 with corresponding positions.

A cathode ray tube (CRT) or the like can be used as the display device 20, and the display pattern of the dot configuration and the display of the cursor on the display device 20 are controlled by the display controller 18. Note that a mode in which the display controller 18 displays the contents of the buffer 16 on the display device 20 while making the positions correspond to each other is known, and in this example, the contents of the image memory area GBUF are appropriately converted to the buffer memory 16. Display shall be performed by storing.

Further, 22 is a character generator for generating character signals such as characters, symbols and cursors to be displayed on the display device 20.

The image processing apparatus according to the present example including each of the above components operates in response to various input signals from the keyboard 8. When an input signal from the keyboard 8 is supplied, an interrupt signal is first transmitted. The CPU 2 sends out various control commands stored in the ROM 4 to the CPU 2, and various controls are performed in accordance with these control commands.

2 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a main part of the image input / output device in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1. In this example, the image reading device is a thermal transfer device as a recording device. 1 shows an example in which a recording head and a reading head are mounted on a carrier by being integrally assembled with a serial printer.

In the figure, 50 is the platen roller of the printer,
The recording paper or the read original 52 is wound around the platen roller 50. Reference numeral 54 is a paper pressing roller for pressing the recording paper or the original 52 against the platen roller 50. Further, f is the conveying direction of the recording paper or the original 52. On the other hand, 56 is a carrier guide fixed to the printer main body in parallel with the platen roller 50. The guide 56 mounts the carrier 58, and the carrier 58 is guided by an appropriate driving means.
Move back and forth along 56. The carrier 58 is provided with a thermal head 60 and an ink ribbon cassette 62 at a position facing the platen roller 50. Ink ribbon in this cassette 62
64 is wound between the thermal head 60 and the platen roller 50.

An image reading head 66 of the image reading device is placed on the carrier 58. As shown in FIG. 3, the read head 66 has a converging light transmitter array 76, a read sensor 78 for photoelectric conversion, and a light source (not shown) such as an LED. The reading sensor 78 is assumed to have, for example, a pixel group of 24 dots arranged in the vertical direction. Further, an index 72 indicating the position of the reading sensor 78 is provided on the upper surface of the reading head 66, and the operator can know the reading position by this.

Further, in FIG. 3, a is the position of the image relating to reading as seen from the operator who refers to the index 72, and b is the reading sensor 78.
The position of the image actually read when reading is performed corresponding to the upper end of the, and c corresponds to the lower end of the read sensor 78 and indicates the position of the image of the line read at the next scanning.

As described above, since the upper end of the reading sensor 78 and the position of the index 72 do not physically coincide with each other, the position a on the document image corresponding to the position of the index 72 which the operator uses as a guide at the time of reading and the reading sensor do not read. It is different from the position b on the image.

Therefore, in this example, when the image reading is interrupted and the reading is performed from another position, the reading is started when the index 72 on the recording head 66 is positioned at the upper end a of the row related to the reading after the interruption. Occasionally, the position correction processing is performed so that the positioned a matches the position b.

Specifically, when reading images continuously, a line feed of c to b is performed every 24 dots, and when an interruption command is issued, the upper end of the next line is located at a to a. Do a line break of the amount. When the upper end of another reading line is positioned at the position a and a reading start command is given, the document is rewound by the amount b to a in the direction opposite to the f direction.

When used as a printer of a word processor, the second illustrated apparatus according to the present embodiment winds a recording sheet 52 on a platen roller 50, moves a carrier 58 along a guide 56, and runs an ink ribbon 64. While operating the thermal head 60. On the other hand, in the case of being used as an image reading device, the read document 52 is wound around the platen roller 50 and the read document is irradiated by the light source to guide the carrier 58 to the guide 56.
The document surface is imaged on the reading sensor 78 by the converging light transmitting element array 76 while moving along.

Next, a mode of the image editing process according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the outline of the image editing processing procedure by the device of the present invention. In this processing procedure, for example, an input key for executing image editing is provided on the keyboard 8,
It is possible to make a transition according to this operation.

To start the processing, first, in steps S2 and S4, the reading mode flag RMODE and the cursor shape flag CFLAG are turned on, respectively. By turning on the cursor flag CFLAG, a dot point cursor is selected as the cursor, and the range can be easily specified in the following processing.

In step S6, key input is awaited, and if the input key is determined to be the range designation key in step S8, if it is determined to be the reading mode selection key in step S10, a reading start command is issued in step S12. If it is determined to be a key and if it is determined to be an end key, the range designation process (step SH), the reading mode, that is, the determination process of the logical operation type at the time of editing (step SH), respectively.
SM), reading processing (SR), and other processing such as saving the edited image on the magnetic disk (step SO), and then returns to step S6. On the other hand, if the input key is neither of these keys, the cursor shape flag CFLAG is turned off in step S16 and the cursor is changed to a character-by-character moving cursor, and then, for example, the character processing mode is entered.

The processing contents of steps SH, SM and SR according to this example will be described below.

In step SH, for example, an area corresponding to the image area of the image memory GBUF is displayed on the display screen of the display device 20 to prompt the operator to instruct the reading range of the document image and the editing range to the image area. The operator may input the following instructions in response to this.

First, as shown in FIG. 8, the manuscript image reading range instruction input displays the image area on the image memory GBUF corresponding to the manuscript 52, and the operator appropriately moves the cursor to read the manuscript desired. The point A and the point B of the area GA on the display screen corresponding to the range IA above 52 are designated. In response to this, the address on the image memory GBUF corresponding to the point A, the horizontal read dot number HY and the vertical read dot number HT are stored in the areas HADR, HYSIZE and HTSIZE on the memory 6, respectively. To do so. Career 58 in connection with this instruction
And the platen 50 is manually moved so that the upper left apex of the range IA coincides with the position a in FIG. In this case, the operator can visually confirm the range designation process.

Further, in the case of inputting the transfer range of the read image to the image memory GBUF, when the image area of the memory GBUF is displayed, as shown in FIG. 9, the range on the original 52 which the operator desires to read. Point A'and point B'of the area GA 'on the display screen corresponding to RA' are designated by the cursor. Correspondingly, the address on the image memory GBUF corresponding to the point A ′, the horizontal dot number HY ′ and the vertical dot number HT ′ of the transfer range GA ′ respectively correspond to the areas HADR and HYSI on the memory 6.
Be stored in ZE and HTSIZE.

After setting these values, end the range specification procedure SH,
It returns to step S6 and waits for the next key input.

FIG. 5 shows an example of specific processing contents of the reading mode determination processing procedure (step SM). Here, first, in step SM2, RMODE count-up processing is performed. next,
RMO corresponding to calculation processing (2 in this example) in step SM4
It is determined whether or not the maximum value in DE (“1” in this example) is exceeded, and if the determination is affirmative, the value of RMODE is set to “0”. When a negative determination is made in step SM4 or after the processing of step SM6, for example, the operation processing name corresponding to the value is displayed, the reading mode determination processing is ended, and the processing returns to step S6.

Next, FIG. 6 shows an example of specific processing contents in the reading processing procedure (step SR). First, step SR2
In, the image information already in the image memory area GBUF is expanded in the image memory area for saving RCBUF and the saving process is performed. This makes it possible to prevent destruction of existing image information even when the combining process is stopped. Next, in step SR6, after turning on the start correction flag,
In step SR6, the image information in the area GBUF is appropriately reduced, transferred to the buffer DBUF, and inverted and displayed on the display screen of the display device 20.

In step SR8, the key input is determined. If the input key is determined to be the interruption key in step SR10, in step SR12, as described above with reference to FIG. 3, the original 52 is conveyed in the f direction by the amount c to a, and then the step Start correction flag is turned on in SR14, and step SR
Wait for key input at 16.

If a negative determination is made in step SR10, or if there is a key input in step SR16, it is determined whether or not the key input in step SR20 is a stop key for canceling image reading. If an affirmative determination is made here, the image information stored in the area RCBUF in step SR22 is expanded into the area GBUF, and if the combining processing is performed before the stop key input operation, the combining processing is invalid. Then, the image information already developed in the area GBUF before the combining process becomes valid.

If a negative decision is made in step SR20, step SR
It is determined whether or not the key input at 24 is the end key. In the case of negative determination, after executing the read operation processing procedure of step SRD (FIG. 7), in step SR28,
Based on the content of the logical operation preselected by the process of step SM, the image information read and stored in the region RBUF,
Image information on the corresponding area GBUF, that is, step
Performs dot-by-dot combining processing with image information within the editing range specified in SH. Then, in step SR30, the read portion of the image memory area GBUF, that is, the arithmetic processing is performed and the image information for the number of horizontal dots is appropriately reduced and buffered.
Transfer to DBUF for display. At this time, on the display screen, the portions subjected to the combining process are sequentially converted from the determination display to the normal display and displayed, so that the operator can recognize the progress status of the processing at a glance.

Next, in step SR32, it is determined whether or not reading has been completed for the number of dots in the vertical direction of the reading range specified in step SH. This determination is made after the calculation for the number of dots in the horizontal direction is completed (step SR28), and the number of dots in the vertical direction of one unit from the area HTSIZE (24 in this example, corresponding to the number of array pixels).
Can be subtracted to detect whether or not the value of the area HTSIZE is no longer positive. If a negative determination is made in step SR32, the process returns to step SR8, and the reading and arithmetic processing for the next one unit number of dots in the vertical direction are performed. On the other hand, if an affirmative decision is made in step SR32 and if an affirmative decision is made in step SR24, the read processing procedure SR is terminated and the process returns to step S6 in FIG.

FIG. 7 shows an example of processing contents in the read operation processing procedure SRD of FIG. First, in step SRD2, the state of the start correction flag RFLAG is determined. If a negative decision is made, the process immediately proceeds to step SRD6, and if a positive decision is made, at the start of reading, as described above with reference to FIG. After performing the position correction process, the process proceeds to step SRD6.

In step SRD6, the start correction flag RFLAG is turned off, then, in the reading area designated in the range in step SRD8, the number of dots in the horizontal direction is read from the position where the carrier 58 is set, and the read image information is read as an area. RBUF
To be stored.

Next, in steps SRD10 and SRD12, the carrier 58 is modified and line feed processing is performed to convey the document 5 in the f direction by the number of dots in the vertical direction of one unit, and the read operation process SRD is completed and the process proceeds to step SR28 in FIG. To do.

As described above, in the image processing apparatus according to the present example, the range designation process (step SH) is first performed to scan the document
It becomes easy for the operator to specify the range above 52 and to specify the edit range on the image area of the range. The start position of the designated reading range in relation to the designation of the reading range is positioned so as to coincide with the index 72, and the position is corrected to an appropriate position corresponding to the position of the sensor 78 at the start of reading. Therefore, the operator can accurately perform the operation of designating the reading range at the time of starting the operation for the combining process or interrupting the reading while using the index 72 as a guide.

Further, since the interruption key for interrupting the image reading is accepted by the procedure of step SR10 and the reading range can be changed by the procedure of step SH, there are a plurality of desired reading ranges on the original 52. Even in such a case, the plurality of reading ranges can be appropriately read in a series of processing flows.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10, when there are three portions A1, B1 and C1 desired to be read on the original 52, the portion A1
Specifying the range, reading, and editing on the area GBUF, give an interrupt command to specify the range, reading, and area GBUF of part B1.
It becomes possible to easily perform the editing on the upper side, further give the interruption designation, specify the range of the portion C1, read and edit on the area GBUF. Needless to say, the operator can arbitrarily set the processing order for the plurality of portions.

Also, as shown in FIG. 11, steps SR6 and SR30
By the processing of, the image information is sequentially read from the reading range on the original 52 on the display screen of the display device 20 in association with the inverted image on the area GBUF related to editing, and is processed and displayed. The operator can know the progress status of the processing at a glance. This allows the operator to
It is possible to confirm on the screen that the image on 52 is read until the necessary portion of the image being edited is reached.

Furthermore, since the image already in the area GBUF is saved before the editing process in the process of step SR2, the original image is not destroyed even when the editing process is stopped in step SR20, In addition, since the image saved by the process of step SR22 is developed again in the area GBUF, the operator can quickly start a new editing process after the process is stopped.

For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the image stored in the area GBUF is first saved in the area RCBUF. Next area GBUF
When the operator notices the misalignment of the read image and operates the stop key when performing the OR operation up to the position x for the image of the image and the image read from the original 52, the area is displayed.
The image saved in RCBUF will be overwritten in the area GBUF.

Further, according to this example, the original is sequentially read for the image to be edited, and the image combining process is performed based on the calculation content given in advance by the operator. It is possible to give flexibility to the synthesizing process when performing the editing process while repeating.

Although the image processing apparatus having the image reading head mounted on the word processor has been described in the present embodiment, the present invention can be applied to any type of apparatus including an image reading unit. Also in this example,
The image processing apparatus having the image reading head mounted on the carrier and movable in the scanning direction with respect to the document surface has been described, but the image reading head may extend over the entire width of the document surface. Needless to say, it is good.

As described above, according to the present invention, the editing
The calculation contents for image composition can be set, the image already read in the image area for the editing process is appropriately developed, and the developed image is handled while newly reading the image. Since the read images are combined and displayed while performing the arithmetic processing set between the image information to be displayed, it is possible to realize an image processing apparatus with high processing efficiency during the editing processing.

Further, according to the present invention, since it is possible to easily confirm the composite state of the images by sequentially performing the composite process for each predetermined amount and displaying the composite image in the image area, the image processing apparatus during the editing process is performed. The operability of can be improved.

[Effect] As described above, according to the present invention, in the arithmetic processing of the read image information and the pre-recorded image information, when the stop of the reading of the image information is instructed, the image of the predetermined reading unit is read. Since the reading of the image information is stopped after the information is displayed, when performing the arithmetic processing while reading the image information, the worker displays the reading state of the image information on the display screen for each predetermined reading unit of the image information. This can be confirmed, and when a shift in the image information reading position is found, the reading can be promptly stopped.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the image processing apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the main part of the image input / output device in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view for explaining a read head in the drawings, FIGS. 4 to 7 are flow charts showing an example of an image processing procedure by the apparatus of the present invention, and FIGS. 8 to 13 are image processing modes by the apparatus of the present invention. It is an explanatory view for explaining. 2 ... CPU, 4 ... ROM, 6 ... RAM, 5 ... Keyboard, 10 ... Disk device, 12 ... Image input / output device, 14 ...
... Cursor register, 16 ... Buffer memory, 18 ... Display controller, 20 ... Display device, 50 ... Platen roller, 52 ... Original, 58 ... Carrier, 66 ... Read head, 72 ... Index, 78 …… Read sensor, RBUF …… Read image buffer, RCBUF …… Save image memory, HADR ……
Upper left point address storage area, HYSIZE ... horizontal dot number storage area, HISIZE ... vertical dot number storage area, RMODE ...
… Read mode memory area, CFLAG… Cursor shape flag, RFLAS …… Start correction flag.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A reading unit for reading image information in a predetermined unit, a display control unit for displaying the image information read by the reading unit on a display unit, image information read by the reading unit, and a storage unit previously stored in the storage unit. An arithmetic means for arithmetically processing the stored image information, a stop instruction means for instructing to stop the reading of the image information, and the predetermined unit when the stop instruction means gives an instruction for stopping the reading of the image information. An image processing apparatus for displaying the image information on the display unit to stop the reading of the image information by the reading unit. 2. A start instruction means for instructing the start of reading of image information, and a saving means for storing the image information stored in said storage means when the start instruction means instructs the start of reading of image information. Storage control means for storing in the storage means, storage control means for storing the image information arithmetically processed by the arithmetic means in the storage means, and the storage control means for storing the image information when the suspension instruction means instructs suspension of the reading of the image information. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that stores the image information stored in the unit in the storage unit. 3. The reading means is provided in a moving body capable of being relative to a document on which an image is recorded, and reads the image recorded on the document by relative movement with the document. Claims 1 or 2
An image processing apparatus according to the item.