 |
Claims  |
|
|
What is claimed is:
1. An image processing apparatus comprising:
first and second input means for inputting color image data consisting of a
plurality of color components;
memory means for storing first image data input by said first or second
input means as binary image data; and
processing means for processing second image data input by said first or
second input means using said first image data stored in said memory
means.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first input means
includes a CCD line sensor for reading an original image as a plurality of
color component data in units of pixels, and said second input means
comprises means for inputting image data from an external device.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said memory means comprises a
bit map memory for storing binary data.
4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said memory means comprises a
memory for storing multivalue data.
5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing means
synthesizes said first image data with said second image data.
6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
designating means for designating a predetermined area of said second image
data,
wherein said processing means processes an image in the area designated by
said designating means.
7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said designating means can
designate a plurality of rectangular areas.
8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said designating means
comprises a digitizer.
9. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said processing means selects
data necessary for image synthesis from a plurality of image data
including said first and second image data in units of pixels.
10. An apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:
means for generating area data,
wherein said area generating means generates the area data based on the
area designated by said designating means, and said processing means
selects necessary data from the plurality of image data in accordance with
the area data.
11. An image processing apparatus comprising:
input means for inputting image data;
first varying means for varying a size of an image represented by first
image data input by said input means;
synthesizing means for synthesizing image data output from said first
varying means and second image data input by said input means; and
second varying means for varying a size of an image represented by the
output image data from said synthesizing means.
12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein, as said input means, one
of image reading means including a CCD line sensor for reading an original
image as a plurality of color component data in units of pixels and image
data input means from an external device is selectively used.
13. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said first and second
varying means comprise a plurality of first-in/first-out memories.
14. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said synthesizing means
selects data necessary for image synthesis from a plurality of image data
including said first and second image data in units of pixels.
15. An apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising:
means for generating area data,
wherein said synthesizing means selects necessary data from the plurality
of image data in accordance with said area data.
16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said synthesizing means
comprises a selector.
17. An apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising memory means for
storing the first image data.
18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said memory means comprises
a binary bit map memory.
19. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said memory means comprises
a multivalue memory.
20. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said first varying means
varies the size of the image represented by said first image data before
or after said first image data is stored in said memory means.
21. An image processing apparatus for digitally processing a color image,
comprising:
designation means for designating an area of an image represented by first
image data; and
synthesizing means for synthesizing second image data in the area
designated by the designation means,
wherein said synthesizing means changes the first image data of the area
where the second image data is not present within the designated area into
predetermined color data.
22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said image processing
apparatus comprises a digital color copying machine for frame-sequentially
outputting an image.
23. An apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising:
input means for inputting said first and second image data.
24. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said input means comprises
reading means for separating and reading an original image into a
plurality of color components in units of pixels.
25. An apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising:
first memory means for storing said second image data.
26. An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said first memory means
comprises a bit map memory for storing binary data.
27. An apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising:
second memory means for storing said third image data.
28. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said second memory means
stores the third image data associated with colors having no area data.
29. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said synthesizing means
synthesizes said first, second, and third image data in units of lines.
30. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said synthesizing means
includes a selector for selecting one of said first, second, and third
image data in accordance with data associated with the area designated by
said designating means.
31. An image processing apparatus for sequentially performing a series of
image processing operations for input image data to output final image
data, comprising:
first memory means for storing the input image data during the series of
image processing operations as binary data; and
second memory means for storing said input image data during the series of
image processing operations as multivalue data,
wherein said first and second memory means are controlled in accordance
with a common timing signal.
32. An apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising:
reading means for reading an original image as color component signals in
units of pixels.
33. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said first memory means
stores character data.
34. An apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising:
synthesizing means for synthesizing first image data stored in said first
memory means with second image data.
35. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said first image data is
character data, and wherein said second image data is multivalue image
data.
36. An apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising changing means
for changing fourth image data using third image data stored in said
second memory means.
37. An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said third image data is
multivalue density data, and wherein said changing means performs density
modulation of said fourth image data.
38. An image processing method comprising the steps of:
inputting color image data consisting of a plurality of color components,
by first or second input means;
storing first image data input in the inputting step as binary image data;
and
performing image processing of said second image data input by said first
or second input means using said first image data stored in the storing
step.
39. A method according to claim 38, wherein said first input means
comprises image reading means comprising a CCD sensor, and said second
input means comprises means for inputting image data from an external
device.
40. A method according to claim 38, wherein said storing step includes the
step of binarizing said first image data.
41. A method according to claim 38, further comprising the step of
designating a mode of said image processing.
42. A method according to claim 38, further comprising the step of
repeating the image processing step for a plurality of output color
components.
43. An image processing apparatus comprising:
input means for inputting color image data consisting of a plurality of
color components;
generating means for generating binary image data;
synthesizing means for synthesizing in a desired color the binary image
data into the color image data; and
varying means for varying a size of an image represented by output data of
said synthesizing means,
wherein the output data of said synthesizing means is supplied into said
varying means before synthesizing of the image data corresponding to one
image plane by said synthesizing means is completed.
44. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the desired color can be
selected from among plural colors.
45. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said synthesizing means
consists of a selector.
46. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said varying means consists
of a first-in/first-out memory.
47. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said apparatus comprises a
color laser copying machine.
48. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said input means is a color
image reader for scanning an original document and generating plural color
component signals for each pixel.
49. An apparatus according to claim 48, further comprising second input
means for inputting image data from an external device.
50. An image processing apparatus comprising:
input means for inputting first image data consisting of a plurality of
color components;
generating means for generating second image data;
synthesizing means for synthesizing the second image data into the first
image data, said synthesizing means changing a color of an outline of the
second image data into a desired color; and
varying means for varying a size of an image represented by output data of
said synthesizing means.
51. An apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said generating means is a
memory for storing binary data.
52. An apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said synthesizing means
consists of a selector.
53. An apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said varying means consists
of a first-in/first-out memory.
54. An apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said apparatus comprises a
color laser copying machine.
55. An apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the output data of said
synthesizing means is supplied into said varying means before synthesizing
of the image data corresponding to one image plane by said synthesizing
means is completed.
56. An apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said input is a color image
reader for scanning an original document and generating plural color
component signals for each pixel.
57. An apparatus according to claim 56, further comprising second input
means for inputting image data from an external device.
58. An image processing apparatus comprising:
designating means for designating an area of an image represented by first
image data;
changing means for changing a color represented by the first image data of
the area designated by said designating means into a predetermined color;
synthesizing means for synthesizing second image data in the area
designated by said designating means; and
varying means for varying a size of an image represented by output data of
said synthesizing means.
59. An apparatus according to claim 58, wherein said synthesizing means
consists of a selector.
60. An apparatus according to claim 58, wherein said varying means consists
of first-in/first-out memory.
61. An apparatus according to claim 58, wherein said apparatus comprises a
color laser copying machine.
62. An apparatus according to claim 58, wherein the output data of said
synthesizing means is supplied into said varying means before synthesizing
of the image data corresponding to one image plane by said synthesizing
means is completed.
63. An image processing apparatus comprising:
input means for inputting color image data consisting of a plurality of
color components;
memory means for storing multivalue image data;
conversion means for converting a density of the color image data using the
multivalue image data; and
varying means for varying a size of an image represented by output data of
said conversion means.
64. An apparatus according to claim 63, wherein said varying means consists
of first-in/first-out memory.
65. An apparatus according to claim 63, wherein said apparatus comprises a
color laser copying machine.
66. An apparatus according to claim 63, wherein said input means is a color
image reader for scanning an original document and generating plural color
component signals for each pixel.
67. An apparatus according to claim 64, further comprising second input
means for inputting image data from an external device.
68. An apparatus according to claim 63, wherein said conversion means
performs mutual calculation of the color image data and the multivalue
image data.
69. An apparatus according to claim 66, wherein the mutual calculation is
addition.
70. An image processing apparatus comprising:
reading means for scanning an original document and generating plural color
component signals for each pixel;
conversion means for converting the color component signals generated by
said reading means into frame-sequential color components, respectively;
input means for inputting image data from an external device;
selection means for selecting only one of the frame-sequential color
components converted by said conversion means and the image data input by
said input means; and
processing means for processing output data of said selection means.
71. An apparatus according to claim 70, further comprising designating
means for designating a predetermined area, and wherein said selection
means is operated in accordance with designation by said designating
means.
72. An apparatus according to claim 70, wherein said processing means
synthesizes predetermined binary data into the output data of said
selection means.
73. An apparatus according to claim 70, wherein said processing means
converts a density of the output data by means of calculation using the
output data of said selection means and predetermined multivalue data.
74. An apparatus according to claim 70, wherein said processing means
varies a size of an image represented by the output of said selection
means. |
|
 |
|
 |
Claims |
|
|
|
Description |
|
|
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and, more
particularly, to an image processing apparatus and method, which can
achieve various image edit functions and image modifying functions upon
output of an image by digital processing of an input image.
2. Related Background Art
A digital color copying machine has become popular. In this digital copying
machine, a color original is color-separated, and the color-separated
original data are read in units of pixels. The read image data are
subjected to digital processing, and the digital data are output to a
color printer to obtain a digital color hard copy. Since a copying machine
of this type has an advantage that image data can be digitally processed,
various image processing functions are attained. For example, an output
position of an image is moved (FIG. 1 .circle.1, a desired image area is
extracted (FIG. 1 .circle.2), a color in only a desired area is changed
(FIG. 1 .circle.3), and one of two areas on an original table is inserted
and synthesized in other area (FIG. 1 .circle.4). Thus, an application
range of such a copying machine in the field of a so-called color copy is
increasingly widened. Therefore, upon combinations of various functions,
the digital copying machine can be easily applied to color planning
reports, advertising posters, sales promotion samples, graphic designs,
and the like. The above-mentioned functions are realized by (1) moving,
(2) deleting, (3) changing a color of, and (4) synthesizing a color image
in a rectangular area in units of areas, and have become popular.
Advertising posters or the like often require further image processing and
modifying functions, as shown in FIG. 2. For example, a color image is
colored in the form of characters .circle.1, characters are framed
.circle.2, and a specific pattern is superposed on a color image to obtain
a special effect .circle.3, and so on. In order to obtain these images, a
large-scale printing apparatus must be used. Meanwhile, in the printing
apparatus, a character plate to be overlaid must be separately formed, and
must be overlaid with high precision to perform re-exposure, resulting in
cumbersome operations. As a result, considerable cost and time are
required. In recent years, an electronic process system or a total scanner
system in which a character or photograph plate is electronically scanned
and read to be fetched in a computer, and fetched data are displayed on a
monitor screen and can be subjected to various edit operations on a memory
plane is available. However, such a system is very expensive and large in
size, and cannot be adopted in an office, e.g., a small design office.
Therefore, such office workers must place an order to a print shop, and
cost of image output is considerably increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above
situation, and has as its object to provide an image processing apparatus
and method, which can eliminate the conventional problems.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing
apparatus which can use various image input apparatuses.
In order to achieve the above objects, according to the present invention,
there is disclosed an image processing apparatus comprising:
first and second input means for inputting image data;
memory means for storing first image data input by the first or second
input means; and
processing means for processing second image data input by the first or
second means using the image data stored in the memory means.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an image
processing apparatus which can perform various image processing
operations.
In order to achieve this object, according to the present invention, there
is disclosed an image processing apparatus comprising:
input means for inputting image data;
variable magnification means for varying a magnification of first image
data input by the input means;
synthesizing means for synthesizing the image data output from the variable
magnification means and second image data input by the input means; and
another variable magnification means for varying a magnification of the
output image data from the synthesizing means.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an image
processing apparatus which can perform a special image processing
operation.
In order to achieve this object, according to the present invention, there
is disclosed an image processing apparatus for digitally processing a
color image, comprising:
designation means for designating an area of an image represented by first
image data, and
synthesizing means for synthesizing second image data in the area
designated by the designation means, which is present within the
designated area and where the second image data is not present into third
image data.
The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent
from the following description of the embodiments and appended claims
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is views for explaining conventional functions;
FIG. 2 is views for explaining functions as the object of the present
invention;
FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C are a block diagram showing the overall arrangement of
the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a color balance adjustment circuit.
FIGS. 5A to 5G are circuit diagrams and charts for explaining an
enlargement/reduction circuit;
FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram for explaining a binarizing circuit;
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a memory circuit;
FIG. 8 is a timing chart of the memory circuit;
FIG. 9 is a view for explaining the operation of the memory circuit;
FIGS. 10A to 10C are circuit diagrams and a table for explaining a
processing and modifying circuit;
FIGS. 11A to 11D are views for explaining the functions of the present
invention;
FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram of an image calculating circuit;
FIGS. 13A to 13C are views for explaining the image calculating circuit;
FIGS. 14A to 14F are charts and a circuit diagram for explaining an area
signal generating circuit;
FIG. 15 is a plan view for explaining a digitizer;
FIGS. 16A and 16B are a circuit diagram and a table for explaining a
masking, under color removing, and black extracting circuit;
FIGS. 17A to 17C are views for explaining the operation of the present
invention;
FIG. 18 is a view for explaining area designation;
FIG. 19 is a flow chart of a memory fetch operation; and
FIGS. 20A-1 and 20A-2 are flow charts of a copying operation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with
reference to FIGS. 3 to 20A-2.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a digital color copying machine according to
an embodiment of an image processing apparatus of the present invention. A
color original on an original table (not shown) to be read by a CCD 1 is
color-separated into R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color components.
The R, G, and B color components are input to an analog signal processing
circuit 2 as analog signals 500, 501, and 502, respectively. The circuit 2
amplifies the input color signals to predetermined levels, and outputs
signals 503, 504, and 505 to an A/D converter 3, so that these signals are
converted to digital data. A shading correction circuit 4 is a circuit for
correcting and uniforming a variation in sensitivity of an optical system
and sensors in a reader unit (not shown). Signals 509, 510, and 511 which
are subjected to digital level correction in the circuit 4 are input to a
masking, under color removing (UCR), and black extracting circuit 6
through a LOG converter 5.
FIG. 16A is a circuit diagram of the masking, UCR, and black extracting
circuit. As is well known, a masking calculation is performed by:
##EQU1##
Coefficients a.sub.11 to a.sub.13, b.sub.11 to b.sub.13, and c.sub.11 to
c.sub.13 are respectively preset in registers 79-1 to 79-4, 80-1 to 80-4,
and 81-1 to 81-4 allocated in a CPU 20. The coefficients are selected by
signals 570 to 572 from an I/O port 23 in correspondence with a print-out
color. For example, when Y is output, (570, 571, 572) =(1, 0, 0) is set.
Selectors 82, 83, and 84 respectively select the coefficients a.sub.11,
a.sub.12, and a.sub.13. Therefore, Y.sub.O given by the following equation
appears at an output 515 in FIG. 16A:
Y.sub.O =a.sub.11 Y+a.sub.12 M+a.sub.13 C--(aK+b)
(for K=min(Y, M, C))
For a monochrome output, (570, 571, 572)=(1, 1, 1) is set, and a signal
MONO given by the following equation is output:
MONO=1/3Y+1/3M+1/3C-(aK+b)
(a=b=0 is preferable in the case)
A color balance adjustment circuit 7 can control gradation characteristics
of image data corresponding to Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and Bk
(black) color components, which are frame-sequentially output. As shown in
FIG. 4, the circuit 7 comprises LUTs (look-up tables) 7-Y, 7-M, 7-C, and
7-Bk corresponding to the Y, M, C, and Bk components, respectively. The
LUTs 7-Y, 7-M, 7-C, and 7-Bk are frame-sequentially switched in response
to signals 533 and 534 from the I/O port 23 under the control of the CPU
20. Since each LUT comprises a RAM (random-access memory), data Y.sub.1 to
Y.sub.n, M.sub.1 to M.sub.n, C.sub.1 to C.sub.n, and Bk.sub.1 to Bk.sub.n
can be arbitrarily rewritten by the CPU 20. An enlargement/reduction
circuit 14 performs thinning processing and interpolation processing of
image data in the main scanning direction of an image, and can also move
an image.
In FIG. 5A, each of FiFo memories 25 and 26 has a memory capacity
corresponding to one main-scanning line, e.g., 16 (pels/mm).times.297 (mm:
the length of an A4 size sheet)=4,752 pixels. As shown in FIG. 5B, memory
write access is performed during a period of AWE or BWE="Lo", and memory
read access is performed during a period of ARE or BRE="Lo". When
ARE="Hi", the output of the memory A is set in a high-impedance state, and
when BRE="Hi", the output of the memory B is set in a high-impedance
state. Therefore, the outputs from the memories are wired-OR to output
data Dout 517. In each of the FiFoA and FiFoB memories 25 and 26, an
internal pointer is incremented by write (W) and read (R) address counters
30 and 31 (FIG. 5C) which are operated by clock signals WCK and RCK. As is
well known, therefore, when a clock signal CLK from which a video data
transfer clock VCLK 526 is thinned by a rate multiplier 27 is input as the
clock signal WCK and the clock signal CLK from which no VCLK 526 is
thinned is input as the clock signal RCK, data input to this circuit is
reduced when it is output. When the clock signals contrary to the above
signals are input, input data is enlarged when it is output. Read and
write access operations of the FiFoA and FiFoB memories are alternately
performed. In each of the FiFo memories 25 and 26, the W and R address
counters 30 and 31 update their counts in response to a clock signal
during an enable "Lo" interval of enable signals (WE 535 and RE 536), and
are initialized when a signal RST (537)="Lo". As shown in FIG. 5D, after
the signal RST (in this embodiment, a main-scanning sync signal HSYNC is
used), AWE="Lo" (the same applies to BWE) is set during an interval
corresponding to m pixels from an (n.sub.1)th pixel to write pixel data,
and ARE="Lo" (the same applies to BRE) is set during an interval
corresponding to m pixels from an (n.sub.2)th pixel to read out pixel
data, so that data are moved like WRITE data.fwdarw.READ data shown in
FIG. 5D. In this manner, when generation positions and intervals of the
signals AWE (and BWE) and ARE (and BRE) are varied, an image can be
arbitrarily moved in the main scanning direction, as shown in FIGS. 5E and
5F. As shown in FIG. 5G, the clock signal WCK or RCK is combined with
thinning processing, so that control for varying a magnification of an
image and moving the image can be easily realized. The signals AWE , ARE,
BWE, and BRE input to this circuit are generated by an area signal
generating circuit shown in FIG. 14D, as will be described later.
An enlargement/reduction circuit 14 has the same arrangement as described
above. Color image data 517 output from the enlargement/reduction circuit
8 is input to one input A of a selector 10. The other input B of the
selector is connected to the output of a FiFo memory 18 (546). A signal
546 is image data which is input from an external apparatus to the
apparatus of this embodiment through an interface circuit 19. When a
switching signal 547 is set "Hi", the selector 10 selects the A input;
when it is set "Lo", selects the B input, i.e., an external input signal.
Then, the selector 10 outputs the selected signal as a selector output
518. The output 518 is input to a binarizing circuit 11, and is binarized.
In this case, when a binarization control signal 527 output from an area
signal generating circuit 17 is set "Hi", the binarizing circuit 11
binarizes input image data, and supplies a binary output 547 to a memory
circuit 15; when the signal 527 is set at "Lo", the binary output 547 is
kept "Lo", and no binary signal is output to the memory circuit. FIG. 6
shows the binarizing circuit 11 in detail. The image input 518 is directly
output as output data 519, and is also input to an input terminal of a
comparator 32. The data input to the comparator 32 is compared with a
numerical value (slice level) set in a programmable latch 33 by the CPU
20, thus outputting a binary output 548. The output 548 is ANDed with the
signal 527 in an AND gate 34. Therefore, as described above, only when the
area signal 527 is set "Hi", a binary output is validated. The memory
circuit 15 will be described below. The memory circuit 15 stores the
binary signal 547 for one page of an image. Since the apparatus of this
embodiment processes an A3-sized image at 16 pels/mm, the memory circuit
15 has a capacity of 32 Mbits. FIG. 7 shows the memory circuit in detail.
Note that a multivalue memory circuit 16 has substantially the same
arrangement as that of the memory circuit 16 except that input data
D.sub.IN and output data D.sub.OUT are multibit data, and a main-scanning
data enable signal HE is replaced with a signal 530. Therefore, the
following description also applies to the memory circuit 16. Input data
D.sub.IN 547 is gated by an enable signal HE 528 in a memory write mode,
and is input to a memory 37 when a W/R 1 output of the I/O port 23
controlled by the CPU 20 is set "Hi" in the write mode. At the same time,
addresses corresponding to a storage operation of image data are generated
by a V address counter 35 for counting main-scanning (horizontal scanning)
sync signals HSYNC 525 in response to the vertical sync signals VSYNC 524
of an image to generate vertical addresses, and an H address counter 36
for counting transfer clock signals VCLK 526 in response to the signals
HSYNC 525 to count horizontal addresses. In this case, for a memory WR
input (write timing signal) 550, a clock signal in phase with the clock
signal VCLK 526 is input as a strobe signal, and input data Di are
sequentially stored in the memory 37 (FIG. 8). When data are read out from
the memory 37, the control signal W/R 1 is set "Lo", so that output data
D.sub.OUT can be read out in the same manner as described above. Note that
both the data write and read access operations are performed in response
to the signal HE 528. For example, when the signal HE 528 is set "Hi" at
an input timing of data D.sub.2 and is set "Lo" at an input timing of data
D.sub.m, as shown in FIG. 8, only image data D.sub.2 to D.sub.m are input
to the memory 37, and data D.sub.0 and D.sub.1 and data D.sub.m+1 and
thereafter are not written but data "0" are written instead. The same
applies to read access. That is, data "0" is read out during a period
other than an "Hi" interval of the signal HE. The signal HE is output from
the area signal generating circuit 17 (to be described later). For
example, when a character original A shown in FIG. 9 is placed on an
original table, if the signal HE is generated as shown in FIG. 9 in write
access of binary signals, a binary image of only a character portion can
be written in the memory, as indicated by A' in FIG. 9. Similarly, image
data can be written in the memory while deleting unnecessary characters.
A processing and modifying circuit 12 will be described below. FIG. 10A is
a block diagram of the processing and modifying circuit using binary image
signals in the apparatus of this embodiment. Color image data 519 input
from an image data input unit are input to a V input terminal of a 3-to-1
selector 45. A.sub.n of a lower-bit portion (A.sub.n, B.sub.n) 555 of data
read out from a memory 43 is input to the input terminal A of the 3-to-1
selector 45, and B.sub.n is input to the input terminal B after they are
latched by a latch 44 in response to the clock signal VCLK 526. Therefore,
one of data V, A, and B is output to an output terminal Y of the selector
45 on the basis of select inputs X.sub.0, X.sub.1, J1, and J2 (520). Data
X.sub.n is upper 2 bits of data in the memory, and serves as a mode signal
for determining one of processing and modifying modes. A code signal 529
is output from the area signal generating circuit 17, and is switched in
synchronism with the clock signal VCLK 526 under the control of the CPU 20
to be input to the memory 43 as an address signal. More specifically, when
(X.sub.10, A.sub.10, B.sub.10)=(01, A.sub.10, B.sub.10) is written in
advance at, e.g., an address " 10" of the memory 43, and data "10" is
assigned to the code signal 529 between points P and Q and data "0" is
assigned thereto between points Q and R in synchronism with scanning of a
main-scanning line 1, as shown in FIG. 11B, data X.sub.n =(0, 1) is read
out, and data (A.sub.10, B.sub.10) is latched and output as (A.sub.n,
B.sub.n) during a period between P and Q. FIG. 10C shows a truth table of
the 3-to-1 selector 45. As shown in FIG. 10C, (X.sub.1, X.sub.0)=(0, 1)
corresponds to a case (A). If J1="1", the A input can be output to an
output terminal Y, i.e., the constant A.sub.10 can be output to the output
terminal Y; when J1="0", the V input can be output to the output terminal
Y, i.e., input color image data can be output to an output terminal 520.
In this manner, so-called butt-to-line character synthesis of a character
portion having a value (A.sub.10) with respect to a color image of an
apple can be realized, as shown in FIG. 11B. Similarly, when (X.sub.1,
X.sub.0)=(1, 0) is set and a signal J1 shown in FIG. 11C is input as a
binary input 554, a signal J2 shown in FIG. 11C is generated by FiFo
memories 47 to 49 and a circuit 46 (FIG. 10B) (color window processing).
According to the truth table shown in FIG. 10C, a framed character is
output in an image of an apple, as shown in FIG. 11C (framed character
processing). Similarly, in FIG. 11D, a rectangular area in an apple is
output at a density of (B.sub.n), and a character is output at a density
of (A.sub.n). FIG. 11A shows a case of (X.sub.1, X.sub.0)=(0, 0), i.e.,
control wherein no processing is performed by binary signals for any
changes in signals J1 and J2.
The pulse width of the signal J2 is extended by 3.times.3 pixels, as shown
in FIG. 10B. When a hardware circuit is added, an extended width can be
easily increased.
FIG. 12 shows an image calculating circuit 13. The circuit 13 receives an
image data input 520 V.sub.IN, and data M.sub.IN 562 read out from the
multivalue memory circuit 16. Assuming that .alpha., .beta., and .gamma.
are respectively set in coefficient latch data 54, 55, and 56 by a CPU bus
532, when a signal 531 is set "Hi", the A input of a selector 57, i.e.,
V.sub.OUT given by the following equation is output:
V.sub.OUT =.alpha.V.sub.IN +.beta.M.sub.IN +.gamma.
On the other hand, when the signal 531 is set "Lo", the B input, i.e., the
input data V.sub.IN 520 is directly output (since the operation of the
memory circuit 16 has already been described above with reference to FIG.
7, a description thereof will be omitted here). Therefore, for example, a
pattern shown in FIG. 13B is written in advance in the memory circuit 16
from the original table or through the interface circuit 19.fwdarw.the
FiFo memories, and an original as shown in FIG. 13A is placed on the
original table. Then, when an image is output while the signal 531 is set
"Hi", an image with a texture can be obtained.
In this manner, since the multivalue memory circuit 16 is arranged in
addition to the binary memory circuit 15, a user can enjoy a variety of
image processing operations. In addition, various image calculations are
available, e.g., a texture effect obtained by density modulation,
synthesis of multivalue image data to a portion of an image, and the like.
FIGS. 14A to 14F are views for explaining the area signal generating
circuit 17. An "area" indicates a hatched portion as shown in FIG. 14E,
and is distinguished from other areas by, e.g., a signal AREA shown in the
timing chart of FIG. 14E for every interval A.fwdarw.B in the sub-scanning
direction and for every line. Each area is designated by a digitizer 58
shown in FIG. 3. FIGS. 14A to 14D show an arrangement capable of obtaining
a large number of area signals with a programmable generation position,
duration of an interval, and number of intervals by the CPU 20. This
arrangement includes two n-bit RAMs (60 and 61 in FIG. 14D) to obtain,
e.g., n area signals AREA0 to AREAn so that one area signal is generated
by one bit of a RAM which can be accessed by the CPU. In order to obtain
the area signals AREA0 and AREAn shown in FIG. 14B, data "1" is set at
bits "0" of addresses x.sub.1 and x.sub.3 of the RAM, and data "0" are set
at bits "0" of the remaining addresses. On the other hand, data "1" is set
at bits "n" of address "1" , x.sub.1, x.sub.2, and x.sub.4, and data "0"
is set at bits "n" of the remaining addresses. When data in the RAM are
sequentially read out in synchronism with a given clock with reference to
the signal HSYNC, data "1" is read out at addresses x.sub.1 and x.sub.3,
as shown in FIG. 14C. Since the readout data is input to both the J and K
terminals of J-K flip-flops 62-0 to 62-n, the output of each flip-flop
changes from "0" to "1" and vice versa when a toggle operation is
performed, i.e., when data "1" is read out from the RAM and a signal CLK
is input, and an interval signal like AREA0, i.e., an area signal is
generated. When data="0" is set for all the addresses, no area interval is
generated, and no area is set. FIG. 14D is a circuit diagram of this
arrangement including the RAMs 60 and 61 described above. In order to
switch the area interval at high speed, memory write access for setting
different areas is performed for the RAM B 61 by the CPU 20 (FIG. 3) while
data read access is performed for the RAM A 60 in units of lines. In this
manner, generation of intervals and memory write access from the CPU are
alternately switched. Therefore, when a hatched area shown in FIG. 14F is
designated, RAMs A and B are switched like
A.fwdarw.B.fwdarw.A.fwdarw.B.fwdarw.A. If (C.sub.3, C.sub.4, C.sub.5)=(0,
1, 0) is set in FIG. 14D, a counter output counted in response to the
signal VCLK is supplied as an address to the RAM A 60 through a selector
63 (Aa) to enable a gate 66 and to disable a gate 68, thus reading out
data from the RAM A 60. The readout n-bit data having a total bit width
are input to the J-K flip-flops 62-0 to 62-n, thus generating interval
signals AREA0 to AREAn in accordance with preset values. Data write access
to the RAM B from the CPU is performed by an address bus A-Bus, a data bus
D-Bus, and an access signal R/W during this interval. Contrary to this,
when interval signals are to be generated based on data set in the RAM B
61, (C.sub.3, C.sub.4, C.sub.5)=(1, 0, 1) can be set to perform the same
operation. Thus, data write access from the CPU to the RAM A 60 can be
performed.
The digitizer 58 is used to designate an area, and inputs a coordinate
position designated from the CPU 20 through the I/O port. For example,
when two points A and B are designated in FIG. 15, coordinates of A
(X.sub.1, Y.sub.2), and B (X.sub.2, Y.sub.1) are input.
Control for obtaining an image edited and processed as shown in FIG. 17C
from a character original shown in FIG. 17A and a color original shown in
FIG. 17B will be described below.
An original shown in FIG. 17A is placed on the digitizer 58, and a desired
area is input. More specifically, when six positions (X.sub.1, Y.sub.1) to
(X.sub.6, Y.sub.6) are designated, as shown in FIG. 18, the CPU 20 inputs
the corresponding coordinates from an I/O port 59, and stores them in a
RAM 22 (S1 and S2). A processing mode is set for areas ("1" to "3").
Referring to FIG. 11, in this case, area "1"=B mode, area "2"=D mode, and
area "3"=C mode. The modes are set by an operation panel (not shown (S3 to
S5). Thereafter, a character original is placed on the original table, and
a read operation is started. This operation may be started by using a copy
button. The CPU 20 sets a line count corresponding to Y.sub.1 for a timer
counter 85, and the timer is started. Thus, when a sub-scanning operation
reaches the position of Y.sub.1, an interrupt signal 575 is generated for
the CPU 20. At this time, X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 are set in memories (RAMs)
60 and 61 shown in FIG. 14 so that the area signal generating circuit 17
generates a signal 527 for enabling binarization, and a signal HE 528 for
enabling write access to the memory, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The
signals are kept set until the counter completes counting of the number of
lines corresponding to a count value (Y.sub.2 -Y.sub.1). After count-up of
the counter, the counter is reset (S7 to S11). Steps S7 to S11 are
repeated for the respective areas, so that a desired binary image is
stored in the memory 37 (FIG. 7). Thereafter, binary image data which is
stored until power-off of the apparatus is then used for character
processing and modifying operations of a color image. An original shown in
FIG. 17B is placed on the original table, and a copying operation is
started. In the present modes, for example, the area "1" is subjected to
butt-to-line processing with a character color of Y (yellow); the area
"2", white recta | | |
