JP2001203833A - Image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To efficiently process image data when performing parallel operations. SOLUTION: Image data control connected to a sensor board unit 202 and / or an image memory access control unit 221 and / or an image processing processor 204 and / or a video data control unit 205 and / or a facsimile control unit 224. Part 20
3 and a system controller 231 that switches transmission of competing image data when image data transmitted to the image data control unit 203 conflicts. Also,
The image memory / access control unit 221 and the image processing processor 204 share and perform image processing on image data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for performing image processing on digital image data, and more particularly, to an image processing apparatus for performing image processing on image data in a digital multifunction peripheral having functions of a copier, a facsimile, a printer, a scanner, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Copiers and scanners are known as devices for optically reading an original. The document reading methods of these apparatuses include a pressure plate method using a document reading unit and a method using a sheet-through document feeder (ADF).

FIG. 23 is a view schematically showing a reading mechanism of a general document reading unit. In the plate printing method, the original 11 to be read is a contact glass 12.
Put on top. Then, the irradiation lamp 13 and the mirror group 14
Is moved with respect to the document 11. As a result, reading of the document surface is performed.
The carriage 15 is driven by a stepping motor (not shown).

In the plate printing method, when reading an original,
The moving speed of the carriage 15 with respect to the document 11 is controlled. Thereby, the number of optical reading lines per unit distance is controlled in the moving direction of the carriage 15 (this is referred to as a sub-scanning direction).

More specifically, when an enlarged original is output with respect to the original 11, the carriage 15 is provided with a smaller size ratio than when the original 11 and the output original are 1: 1. Is also controlled to move slowly. Carriage 1
When 5 moves slowly, the number of read lines per unit distance in the sub-scanning direction increases.

When the original 11 is reduced, the carriage 15 is controlled to move quickly. As the movement of the carriage 15 increases, the number of read lines in the sub-scanning direction decreases. In this way, the magnification / reduction processing in the sub-scanning direction is performed. On the other hand, in a direction intersecting with the sub-scanning direction (this is called a main scanning direction), enlargement or reduction is performed by electrically scaling one line data.

Generally, a copying machine is provided with an electric document size sensor. The document size is detected by the document size sensor before the movement of the carriage 15 starts, that is, before the reading of the document 11 starts. Therefore, when the paper size scaling function is selected, the magnification from the document size to the paper size is calculated before the document reading is started.

[0008] For example, A
Even if originals of various sizes such as 3, B4, A4, or B5 are placed in the vertical or horizontal direction, the process controller calculates parameters for scaling control before the carriage 15 starts moving. The moving speed of the carriage 15 is controlled based on the parameter.

FIG. 24 is a diagram schematically showing a reading mechanism using a general sheet-through document feeder. In this case, the document 11 to be read is conveyed by a sheet-through document feeder 16 having a document feed mechanism so as to automatically pass the reading position.

At this time, the carriage 15 remains fixed at the reading position. That is, in the case of the plate-press system, the carriage 15 is moved with respect to the stationary document 11, but when the sheet-through document feeder 16 is used, the carriage 11 is moved with respect to the stationary carriage 15.
Will move.

The moving speed of the original 11 is controlled by driving a stepping motor (not shown). When the original 11 is enlarged or reduced in the original feeding direction (this is referred to as a sub-scanning direction), the moving speed of the original 11 is controlled. That is, as in the case of the plate printing method, enlargement or reduction is realized by changing the relative speed with respect to the movement between the document 11 and the carriage 15.

When the sheet through document feeder 16 is used, the size of the original is detected by a mechanical sensor. In this case, the size of the document in the sub-scanning direction is detected when the reading of the document 11 is completed.
That is, at the point in time before the reading of the original 11 starts, the original 1
The size of No. 1 in the sub-scanning direction is unknown. Therefore, it is impossible to calculate a parameter for scaling control before the reading of the document 11 is started. Therefore, manuscript 11
Cannot be controlled according to the enlargement ratio or reduction ratio.

The same applies to a direction intersecting with the sub-scanning direction (this is called a main scanning direction). The document size in the main scanning direction is detected when the document 11 reaches the sensor position. Therefore, originals 1 of various sizes
When 1 is mixed, it is impossible to calculate a parameter for scaling control before starting the document reading process.

The image of the document 11 read using the sheet-through document feeder 16 has a mirror image relationship with the image obtained in the plate printing mode in the main scanning direction. Therefore, at the time of image output, a mirroring process for switching the left and right is performed.

Recently, digital copying machines have been used in addition to analog copying machines. The digital copying machine optically reads a paper document or the like, converts the read image signal into a digital image signal, and performs image processing. Further, among digital copying machines, there is a digital multifunction peripheral having a scanner function, a printer function, and a facsimile function in addition to a copying function.

In digital copiers and digital multifunction peripherals (hereinafter referred to as digital multifunction peripherals, etc.), instead of performing enlargement / reduction by mechanical control as described above, electrical scaling is performed on digital image signals. In some cases, enlargement / reduction is performed by performing processing.

As such a device, for example, Japanese Patent No.
No. 78560 “Image data scaling processing device” is known.
As a digital multifunction peripheral, an "image processing apparatus" relating to image processing of a read signal, image storage in a memory, and parallel operation of a plurality of functions is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-8-274.
No. 986.

However, in the document reading mechanism using a sheet-through document feeder, there has not been proposed a device capable of automatically copying a document of various sizes mixed while enlarging / reducing the document. The reason is that the conventional document reading mechanism cannot determine the size of the document before the reading of the document is started, and thus cannot determine the variable size.

[0019]

Here, in a document reading mechanism using the above-mentioned sheet-through document feeder, it is possible to automatically copy a document of various sizes mixed while enlarging / reducing it. One of the ways to realize a device that can
It is necessary to perform a parallel operation in each processing unit. In this case, there is a problem that the system configuration is complicated, for example, the number of ports for transmitting image data is increased in order to efficiently perform the parallel operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide an image processing apparatus capable of efficiently processing image data when performing parallel operations.

[0021]

Means for Solving the Problems To solve the above-mentioned problems,
In order to achieve the object, an image processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention includes an image reading unit that reads image data and / or an image memory control unit that writes / reads image data by controlling an image memory.
Or image processing means for performing image processing such as processing and editing on the image data and / or image writing means for writing the image data on transfer paper and / or image data transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving the image data to / from an external device, First image data read by the image reading means and / or
Alternatively, the second image data read by the image memory control means and / or the third image data subjected to image processing by the image processing means and / or the fourth image data received by the image data transmission / reception means Receiving image data and transferring the first image data and / or the second image data and / or the third image data and / or the fourth image data to the image memory control means and / or Image data control means for transmitting to the image processing means and / or to the image writing means and / or to the image data transmitting / receiving means; the image data control means; the image reading means; the image memory control means; Used to transmit and receive image data to / from the processing means, the image writing means, or the image data transmitting / receiving means. And switching means for controlling the switching of the right to use the path that is characterized by having a.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when transmitting and receiving image data relating to different operations, collision of the image data can be avoided, and the image data can be transmitted and received efficiently. Time can be reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the image memory control means controls the image data to be written or the image data to be read. It is characterized by performing image processing such as processing and editing.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to perform preprocessing of image processing on image data stored in the memory or before transmitting the image data to another unit. it can.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the image memory control means controls the image data to be written or the image data to be read. An image rotation process is performed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a part of image processing to be performed by another unit (for example, image processing means) can be shared, and the load on the other unit can be reduced correspondingly. Thus, the processing time of the entire processing can be reduced.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the image memory control means controls the image data to be written or the image data to be read. It is characterized by performing image scaling processing.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a part of image processing to be performed by another unit (for example, image processing means) can be shared, and the load on the other unit can be reduced correspondingly. Thus, the processing time of the entire processing can be reduced.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the switching means competes for use of the path by different image data. In this case, switching is performed by time sharing.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, competing image data can be transmitted and received efficiently, and the transmission and reception time can be reduced.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the image processing means competes for image processing with different image data. In this case, the image processing is controlled by time division.

According to the invention described in claim 6, image processing of competing image data can be efficiently performed, and the processing time can be reduced.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first to sixth aspects, the switching means and the image processing means are controlled by separate control means. And

According to the present invention, the control of the switching means and the control of the image processing means can be shared.

[0035]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
Preferred embodiments of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail. First, the principle of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram functionally showing the configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

This image processing apparatus includes an image data control unit 100, an image reading unit 101, an image memory control unit 102, an image processing unit 103, and an image writing unit 104. Image reading unit 1
01, the image memory control unit 102, the image processing unit 103, and the image writing unit 104 are connected to the image data control unit 100.

The image reading unit 101 is a unit for reading a document and obtaining image data. The image memory control unit 102 is a unit for writing or reading image data to or from an image memory for storing image data. The image processing unit 103 is a unit for performing image processing such as processing and editing on image data. Image writing unit 1
Reference numeral 04 denotes a unit for writing image data on transfer paper or the like.

(Image Data Control Unit 100) The following processing is performed by the image data control unit 100.

For example, (1) data compression processing (primary compression) for improving data bus transfer efficiency, (2)
Transfer processing of primary compressed data to image data, (3) image synthesis processing (image data from a plurality of units can be synthesized, and also includes synthesis on a data bus), (4) image shift Processing (shifting of the image in the main scanning and sub-scanning directions), (5) image area expansion processing (the image area can be enlarged by an arbitrary amount to the periphery), (6) image scaling processing (for example, 50% or (200% fixed magnification), (7) Parallel bus interface processing,
(8) Serial bus interface processing (interface with process controller 211 described later), (9) format conversion processing of parallel data and serial data, (10) interface processing with image reading unit 101, (11) image processing Unit 10
3 and the like.

(Image Reading Unit 101) The following processing is performed by the image reading unit 101.

For example, (1) reading processing of reflected light of an original by an optical system, (2) conversion processing to an electric signal by a light receiving element, (3) digitization processing by an A / D converter,
(4) shading correction processing (processing for correcting illuminance distribution unevenness of a light source), (5) scanner γ correction processing (processing for correcting density characteristics of a reading system), and the like.

(Image Memory Control Unit 102) The processing performed by the image memory control unit 102 includes the following.

For example, (1) interface control processing with a system controller, (2) parallel bus control processing (interface control processing with a parallel bus), (3) network control processing, (4) serial bus control processing (a plurality of processes) External serial port control processing),
(5) Internal bus interface control processing (command control processing with the operation unit), (6) Local bus control processing (ROM and R for starting the system controller)
AM, font data access control processing), (7) memory module operation control processing (memory module write / read control processing, etc.), and (8) memory module access control processing (from a plurality of units). Arbitration of memory access requests), (9) data compression / expansion processing (processing to reduce the amount of data for effective use of memory), (10)
Image editing processing (data clearing of a memory area, rotation processing of image data, image synthesis processing on a memory, etc.), and the like.

(Image Processing Unit 103) The following processing is performed by the image processing unit 103.

For example, (1) shading correction processing (processing for correcting unevenness in illuminance distribution of a light source), (2) scanner γ correction processing (processing for correcting the density characteristics of a reading system), (3) MTF correction processing, 4) smoothing, (5)
Arbitrary magnification processing in the main scanning direction, (6) density conversion (γ conversion processing: corresponding to density notch), (7) simple multi-value processing,
(8) Simple binarization processing, (9) Error diffusion processing, (10)
Dither processing, (11) dot arrangement phase control processing (rightward dot, leftward dot), (12) isolated point removal processing,
(13) Image area separation processing (color determination, attribute determination, adaptive processing), (14) density conversion processing, and the like.

(Image Writing Unit 104) The processing performed by the image writing unit 104 includes the following.

For example, (1) edge smoothing processing (jaggy correction processing), (2) correction processing for dot rearrangement,
(3) image signal pulse control processing, (4) parallel data and serial data format conversion processing, and the like.

(Hardware Configuration of Digital MFP)
Next, a hardware configuration when the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment forms a digital multifunction peripheral will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

The image processing apparatus according to this embodiment includes a reading unit 201, a sensor board unit 20
2, image data control unit 203, image processor 2
04, a video data control unit 205 and an image forming unit (engine) 206. The image processing apparatus includes a serial bus 210, a process controller 2
11, a RAM 212 and a ROM 213.

The reading unit 201, the sensor board,
Unit 202, image data control unit 203, video / data control unit 205, imaging unit (engine) 206,
The process controller 211, the RAM 212, and the ROM 213 are mutually connected via the serial bus 210. The image processor 204 is connected to the image data control unit 203 and the video data control unit 205.

Further, the image processing apparatus comprises a parallel bus 22.
0, image memory access control unit 221, memory
Module 222 and facsimile control unit 22
4 is provided. Image memory access control unit 22
1. The facsimile control unit 224 and the image data control unit 203 are mutually connected via a parallel bus 220.

The memory module 222 is connected to the image memory access control unit 221. The image memory access control unit 221 is connected to an external PC (personal computer) 223. The facsimile control unit 224 is connected to a public line (PN) 225.

The image processing device includes a system controller 231, a RAM 232, a ROM 233, and an operation panel 234. The system controller 231, the RAM 232, the ROM 233, and the operation panel 234 are connected to the image memory access control unit 221.

Here, the components 201 to 20 shown in FIG.
6, 221, 222 and each unit 100- shown in FIG.
The correspondence relationship with the 104 will be described. Reading unit 2
01 and the sensor board unit 202 have a function as the image reading unit 101 (see FIG. 1) as a document reading unit. Further, the image data control unit 203 includes the image data control unit 100 (see FIG. 1).
As a function. Further, the image processing processor 204 has a function as the image processing unit 103 (see FIG. 1).

The video data control unit 205 and the image forming unit (engine) 206 have a function as the image writing unit 104 (see FIG. 1) which is an output unit. The image memory access control unit 221 and the memory module 222 have a function as the image memory control unit 102 (see FIG. 1).
The memory module 222 has a function as a storage unit.

Next, the contents of each component of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 2 will be described. Although not shown, the reading unit 201 for optically reading an original includes, for example, a lamp, a mirror, and a lens. Reading unit 2
Reference numeral 01 denotes a configuration in which reflected light of lamp irradiation on a document is condensed on a light receiving element by a mirror and a lens.

The light receiving element is, for example, a CCD (Charge).
It is composed of a Coupled Device (charge coupled device). CCD is a sensor board unit 20
2 is installed. The CCD converts a light signal reflected by the original into an electric signal. Sensor board unit 2
Reference numeral 02 converts the image data converted into an electric signal into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal to the image data control unit 203.

The image data control unit 203 controls transmission of image data between the functional device (processing unit) and the data bus. An image data control unit 203 is a system controller that controls the data transfer between the sensor board unit 202, the parallel bus 220, and the image processing processor 204, the process controller 211 for the image data, and the overall control of the image processing apparatus. 231 is performed. RA
M212 is used as a work area of the process controller 211. The ROM 213 stores a boot program of the process controller 211 and the like.

The image data control unit 203 transfers the image data sent from the sensor board unit 202 to the image processor 204. The image processor 204 corrects signal degradation (referred to as signal degradation of a scanner system) due to quantization into an optical system and a digital signal. Therefore, the image processor 204 has a function as an image processing unit.
After correcting the signal deterioration, the image processor 204 transfers the image data to the image data control unit 203 again.

The image memory access control unit 221 comprises:
It controls writing or reading of image data to / from the memory module 222. In addition, image memory
The access control unit 221 controls the operation of each component connected to the parallel bus 220. The RAM 232 is used as a work area of the system controller 231. ROM 233 is the system controller 231
And the like are stored.

The operation panel 234 is for inputting processing to be performed by the image processing apparatus. For example,
The type of processing (copying, facsimile transmission, image reading, printing, etc.), the number of processings, and the like are input via the operation panel 234. Thereby, the input of the image data control information is performed. Therefore, the operation panel 234 has a function as a magnification specifying unit.

Here, the job executed by the image processing apparatus includes the read image data in the memory module 22.
2 and a job that is not stored in the memory module 222. Each job will be described.

As an example of a job stored in the memory module 222, there is a job for copying a plurality of sheets for one document. In this case, the reading unit 201 operates only once, and the document is read only once. The obtained image data is stored in the memory module 222.
Then, the stored image data is read a plurality of times.

On the other hand, as an example of a job that does not use the memory module 222, there is a job for copying one document only one sheet. In this case, the image data read by the reading unit 201 is
Will be played back. Therefore, the image memory access control unit 221 does not access the memory module 222.

The image data is stored in the memory module 222.
The flow of data will be described for each of the job stored in the memory module and the job not using the memory module 222. First, a job that does not use the memory module 222 will be described.

The data transferred from the image processor 204 to the image data controller 203 is transferred from the image data controller 203 to the image processor 204 again. The image processor 204 performs image quality processing for converting luminance data from the CCD of the sensor board unit 202 into area gradation.

After the image quality processing is completed, the image data is sent from the image processor 204 to the video data controller 20.
5 is transferred. The video data control unit 205 performs post-processing related to dot arrangement and pulse control for reproducing dots with respect to the signal changed to the area gradation. Thereafter, a reproduced image is formed on the transfer paper in the image forming unit 206.

Next, a description will be given of the flow of image data in the case where image data is stored in the memory module 222 and additional processing is performed when the image data is read out, for example, rotation of the image direction or synthesis of images is performed. The image data transferred from the image processor 204 to the image data control unit 203 is sent from the image data control unit 203 to the image memory access control unit 221 via the parallel bus 220.

The image memory access control unit 221 comprises:
Based on the control of the system controller 231, access control of the image data and the memory module 222, development of print data of the external PC (personal computer) 223, and image data for effective use of the memory module 222 are performed. Perform compression / decompression.

The image data sent to the image memory access control unit 221 is stored in the memory module 222 after data compression. The stored image data is read out to the image memory access control unit 221 as necessary. The image memory access control unit 221 expands the read image data and returns the read image data to the original image data.
Then, the image data is transferred from the image memory access control unit 221 to the image data control unit 203 via the parallel bus 220.

The data transferred to the image data control unit 203 is transferred to the image processor 204. The image data subjected to the image quality processing in the image processor 204 is transferred to the video data control unit 205. The video data control unit 205 performs pulse control on the image data. Thereafter, a reproduced image is formed on the transfer paper in the image forming unit 206.

In the flow of image data, the function of the digital multi-function peripheral is realized by the bus control by the parallel bus 220 and the image data control unit 203. In the facsimile transmission function, the read image data is subjected to image processing by the image processor 204 and transferred to the facsimile control unit 224 via the image data control unit 203 and the parallel bus 220. The facsimile control unit 224 performs data conversion to a communication network, and transmits the data to a public line (PN) 225 as facsimile data.

On the other hand, with respect to the received facsimile data, facsimile control unit 224 converts line data from public line (PN) 225 into image data. The changed image data is transferred to the image processor 204 via the parallel bus 220 and the image data control unit 203. Image processing processor 204
Transfers image data to the video data control unit 205 without performing special image quality processing. The video data control unit 205 performs dot rearrangement and pulse control on the image data. Then, the imaging unit 2
At 06, a reproduced image is formed on the transfer paper.

In a situation where a plurality of jobs, for example, a copy function, a facsimile transmission / reception function, and a printer output function operate in parallel, the allocation of the right to use the reading unit 201, the imaging unit 206, and the parallel bus 220 to the job is performed by the system system. It is controlled by the controller 231 and the process controller 211.

The process controller 211 controls the flow of image data, and the system controller 231
Controls the entire system and manages the activation of each resource. In addition, the function selection of the digital multi-function peripheral is selectively inputted on the operation panel 234 of the operation unit, and the processing contents such as the copy function and the facsimile function are set.

The system controller 231 and the process controller 211 communicate with each other via the parallel bus 220, the image data control unit 203, and the serial bus 210. Specifically, communication between the system controller 231 and the process controller 211 is performed by performing a data format conversion for a data interface between the parallel bus 220 and the serial bus 210 in the image data control unit 203.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a controller unit that performs system control and memory control. The controller unit has a configuration in which a system controller 231, a memory module 222, an image memory access controller 221 and various bus interfaces (I / F) that control the operation of the entire image processing apparatus are integrated. .

Various bus interfaces, for example, parallel bus interface 301, serial bus interface 302, local bus interface 30
3 and the network interface 304 are connected to the image memory access control unit 221. The controller unit is connected to related units via a plurality of types of buses in order to maintain independence in the entire image processing apparatus.

The system controller 231 controls other functional units via the parallel bus 220. The parallel bus 220 is used for transferring image data. The system controller 231 issues an operation control command to the image data control unit 203 to cause the memory module 222 to store the image data. This operation control command is sent via the image memory access control unit 221, the parallel bus interface 301, and the parallel bus 220.

In response to the operation control command, the image data is sent from the image data control unit 203 to the image memory access control unit 221 via the parallel bus 220 and the parallel bus interface 301. Then, the image data is stored in the memory module 222 under the control of the image memory access control unit 221.

On the other hand, the controller unit shown in FIG. 3 functions as a printer controller, a network controller, and a serial bus controller in the case of calling from a PC (personal computer) 223 as a printer function. In the case of a connection via a network, the image memory access control unit 221 receives print output request data via the network interface 304.

In the case of a general-purpose serial bus connection, the image memory access control unit 221 receives print output request data via the serial bus interface 302. The general-purpose serial bus interface 302 supports a plurality of standards, for example, a USB (Univ.
(Serial Serial Bus), 1284, or 1394.

The print output request data is developed into image data by the system controller 231. The expansion destination is an area in the memory module 222. Font data necessary for development is obtained by referring to a font ROM (included in the ROM 233 in FIG. 2) via the local bus interface 303 and the local bus. The local bus is connected to the ROM 233 and R
Connect to AM232.

As for the serial bus, in addition to an external serial port for connection with a PC (personal computer) 223, there is also an interface for transfer with an operation panel 234 which is an operation unit of the image processing apparatus.
This is not the print development data, but the system controller 2 via the image memory access control unit 221.
31 to receive a processing procedure, display a system state, and the like.

Data transmission / reception between the system controller 231 and the memory module 222 and various buses is performed via the image memory access control unit 221. Jobs using the memory module 222 are centrally managed in the entire image processing apparatus.

In the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the performance relating to data access is changed only by replacing the controller unit shown in FIG. In addition, regarding the adaptation according to the performance of the controller unit, by appropriately selecting the performance of the system controller 231 alone, the memory capacity of the memory module 222 and the access speed of the memory, both the cost and the performance required for the image processing apparatus can be improved. The optimal unit is constructed from.

FIG. 4 shows the image memory access control unit 2
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of a block configuration of No. 21; The image memory access control unit 221 includes an access control unit 401,
Memory control unit 402, compression / decompression module 403,
An image editing module 404, a system interface 405, a local bus controller 406, a parallel bus controller 407, a serial port controller 408, a serial port 409, and a network controller 410 are provided.

The compression / decompression module 403, the image editing module 404, the parallel bus control unit 407, the serial port control unit 408, and the network control unit 410
Are connected to the access control unit 401 via DMACs (direct memory access control) 411, 412, 413, 414, and 415, respectively.

The system interface 405 sends and receives commands or data to and from the system controller 231 (see FIG. 3). Basically, the system
The controller 231 controls the entire image processing apparatus.
Further, the system controller 231 manages memory resource allocation. Control of other units is performed in the parallel bus 220 via the system interface 405 and the parallel bus control unit 407.

Each unit of the image processing apparatus is basically connected to the parallel bus 220. Therefore, the parallel bus control unit 407 controls transmission and reception of data to and from the system controller 231 and the memory module 222 by controlling bus occupation.

Network control section 410 controls connection with a LAN (local area network). The network control unit 410 manages transmission and reception of data to and from an external extension device connected to the network. Here, the system controller 231 does not participate in the operation management of the connected device on the network, but controls the interface in the image memory access control unit 221. Although not particularly limited, in the present embodiment, control for 100 BASE-T is added.

The serial port 409 connected to the serial bus has a plurality of ports. The serial port control unit 408 has a number of port control mechanisms corresponding to the types of buses provided. Although not particularly limited, in the present embodiment, port control for USB and 1284 is performed. In addition to the external serial port, control of transmission / reception of data related to command reception or display with the operation unit is performed.

The local bus control unit 406 has a system
RAM is required to activate the controller 231
232, a ROM 233, and a local serial bus to which a font ROM for expanding printer code data is connected.

The operation control is performed by the system interface 4
From 05, command control by the system controller 231 is performed. Data control manages memory access from external units, centering on the memory module 222. The image data is transferred from the image data control unit 203 (see FIG. 2) to the image memory access control unit 221 via the parallel bus 220. Then, the image data is taken into the image memory access control unit 221 by the parallel bus control unit 407.

The memory access of the fetched image data is separated from the management of the system controller 231. That is, the memory access is performed by direct memory access control independently of system control. Regarding access to the memory module 222, the access control unit 401 arbitrates access requests from a plurality of units. Then, the memory control unit 402 controls the access operation of the memory module 222 or the reading / writing of data.

From the network to the memory module 2
When accessing the memory 22, the data taken into the image memory access control unit 221 from the network via the network control unit 410 is transferred to the memory module 222 by direct memory access control. The access control unit 401 arbitrates access to the memory module 222 for a plurality of jobs. The memory control unit 402 includes the memory module 2
Read / write of data to / from the memory 22 is performed.

From the serial bus to the memory module 2
22 is accessed, the serial port control unit 408
The data fetched into the image memory access control unit 221 via the serial port 409 is transferred to the memory module 222 by direct memory access control. The access control unit 401 arbitrates access to the memory module 222 for a plurality of jobs. The memory control unit 402 reads / writes data from / to the memory module 222.

The print output data from the personal computer 223 connected to the network or the serial bus is expanded by the system controller 231 into the memory area in the memory module 222 using the font data on the local bus. You.

The system controller 231 manages the interface with each external unit.
Regarding data transfer after being taken into the image memory access control unit 221, each DMAC 41
1, 412, 413, 414, and 415 manage memory access. In this case, each DMAC 411, 412,
Since the 413, 414, and 415 execute data transfer independently of each other, the access control unit 401 performs a job collision regarding access to the memory module 222 or prioritizes each access request.

Here, each of the DMACs 411, 412, 413, 4
14 and 415, the access from the system controller 231 via the system interface (system I / F) 405 for bitmap expansion of the stored data is also included.

In the access control unit 401, the DMAC permitted to access the memory module 222
Data, or data from the system interface 405, is transferred directly to the memory module 222 by the memory controller 402.

The image memory access control unit 221 comprises:
It has a compression / decompression module 403 and an image editing module 404 for data processing inside. The compression / decompression module 403 compresses and decompresses data so that image data or code data can be effectively stored in the memory module 222. The compression / decompression module 403 controls an interface with the memory module 222 by the DMAC 411.

The image data once stored in the memory module 222 is transferred from the memory module 222 to the memory controller 4 by direct memory access control.
02, called by the compression / decompression module 403 via the access control unit 401. Then, the converted image data is controlled by direct memory access control.
The data is returned to the memory module 222 or output to an external bus.

The image editing module 404 has a DMAC4
12 controls the memory module 222 and performs data processing in the memory module 222.
More specifically, the image editing module 404 performs not only the clearing of the memory area, but also the rotation processing of the image data and the combining of different images as data processing. The image editing module 404 performs editing for converting data to be processed by address control on the memory.

The image editing module 404 has a memory
The processing is performed on the bitmap image developed on the module 222. The image editing module 404 cannot edit the compressed code data or printer code data. Therefore, image compression for effective memory storage is performed on data after image editing.

(Preprocessing of Image Processing) Next, the contents of the preprocessing for the image data stored in the memory will be described. The pre-processing is a process of detecting the size of a read original, correcting the inclination of the original, and correcting the geometric characteristics of the original from the read image data. FIG.
9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of preprocessing for image data. In the flowchart of FIG. 5, first, the read image data is stored in the image memory access control unit 22.
1 is stored in the memory module 222 (step S501).

Then, for the stored image data,
The end of the document is detected (step S502). In reading with the sheet-through DF, the reflected light for the original and the reflected light for the background plate are input in a portion where the original does not exist in the read image, and the density difference between the background portion of the original and the background plate is detected. Generally, the density difference is intentionally set by making the background plate brighter than white paper, increasing the reflected light by giving gloss, or setting a complementary color for the lamp light source.

As a result of the edge detection based on the density difference, the document area is detected / estimated from the edge information (step S50).
3). Then, the inclination amount of the document is detected from the positional relationship of the document area in the storage area. FIG. 6 shows an example of the state of the stored image. The image read to the left has background plate reading areas 601 to 604 on each end face. Then, a clear density difference generated between the original and the background portion 600 is maintained. In this way, the amount of inclination of the document is detected. Then, the skew amount is calculated from the detected inclination amount (step S504).

The skew of the original image is corrected for the skew amount of each side calculated in step S504 (step S505). As a result, the pixels on the memory are moved, and the image read while tilted is deformed to a geometrically correct position. In addition, the correct document size is calculated from the detection of the document area.

The document size is set in a memory (for example, the memory module 222 or RA) managed by the system controller 231 for setting the magnification range.
M232). A series of pre-processing is performed by the system controller 231 via the image memory access control unit 221.

(Processing Example 1) Next, an outline of the main / sub electric scaling process accompanied by the image rotation process when the read image is transmitted by facsimile will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a flow of the main / sub electric scaling process, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of the main / sub electric scaling process.

In FIG. 7, in the scaling process, a one-dimensional convolution operation module is configured in the image processor 204 in a programmable manner. The image data control unit 203 performs only the data I / F function, and the image memory access control unit 221 controls access to the memory module 222 and controls 90-degree rotation of image data.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, the original image is read at the same magnification for the entire original (step S801), and the image data control unit 203 is sent from the sensor board unit 202.
(FIG. 7 (1)) via the image processor 20
In step S4, electrical scaling in the main scanning direction is performed (step S802). Thereafter, the image after the main scanning electric magnification change is transmitted from the image processor 204 to the image data controller 203.
Is transferred to the image memory access control unit 221 via the interface (FIG. 7 (2)).
1 is stored in the memory module 222 managed (step S803).

At this time, the sensor board unit 20
In step 2, shading correction is performed, and image deterioration due to uneven illuminance is corrected in advance. When storing image data in the memory module 222, the detected document size is also stored as additional information.

Next, the image memory access control unit 2
21 reads the image data from the memory module 222 (step S804), and rotates the read image data by 90 degrees (step S80).
5). In the case of a sheet-through DF, the image is rotated after mirroring the left-right inverted image. The rotated image data is transferred to the image processor 204 via the image data controller 203 (FIG. 7 (3)), and the image processor 204 performs an interpolation operation on the resampling position (step S806).

The parameters of the interpolation calculation are based on the storage of image data and the magnification range,
1 and the desired settings in the image processor 204 are completed in advance. This interpolation calculation process corresponds to a scaling process in the sub-scanning direction with respect to the document reading direction. The scaling setting of the image processor 204 is to download setting values for main scanning and sub-scanning scaling from the process controller 211 and calculate image data based on interpolation calculation processing.

Image processing such as MTF correction and gradation processing is performed on the image data that has been subjected to the main and auxiliary electric scaling processes by a programmable arithmetic processor, and necessary processing procedures are downloaded from the process controller 211 and executed. (Step S807). The data on which the image processing has been completed is transferred from the image processing processor 204 to the facsimile control unit 224 via the parallel bus via the image data control unit 203 (FIG. 7 (4)), and is transmitted by the facsimile control unit 224 by facsimile. (Step S808).

Next, when the read image is transmitted by facsimile, the image memory access control unit 221 is used.
Will be described. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the flow of the scaling process, and FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of the scaling process.

(Processing Example 2) In FIGS. 9 and 10, an original image is read at the same magnification regardless of whether it is a sheet-through DF, a press plate, or a mixed size (step S1001). Via the image memory access control unit 221 (FIG. 9)
(1)), and stored in the memory module 222 (step S1002).

A document size is detected by the preprocessing in the memory module 222 and an index is added to the stored image data. The system controller 231 calculates a read pixel position for resampling from the indexed scaling designation condition. The original image data is read from the memory module 222 in the two-dimensional arrangement (step S1003), and the planar magnification is programmably calculated by the arithmetic processing by the system controller 231 and the memory access control by the image memory access control unit 221. Perform arithmetic processing (step S
1004).

The image data after the scaling process is transferred to the image processor 204 via the image data controller 203 (FIG. 9 (2)), and the image processor 204 performs image processing (step S1005). As described above, the scaling process is performed by the image memory access control unit 221.
(System controller 231)
The image processing such as F correction and gradation processing is performed by the image processor 204 so that the image data is divided and shared.

The data on which the image processing has been completed is sent from the image processor 204 via the image data control unit 203 to the facsimile control unit 2 via the parallel bus.
24 (FIG. 9 (3)) and transmitted by facsimile by the facsimile control unit 224 (step S).
1006).

(Processing Example 3) Next, the printing output processing of the image stored in the memory will be described. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the flow of the print output process.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of the print output process.

In FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, processing for print output, such as data after image processing on a read image or data for print output or facsimile reception data from the PC 223, is completed and stored for print output. When outputting the stored image, the stored image is read by the image memory access control unit 221 (step S1201), and the image data control unit 203 transmits the image (data) from the image memory access control unit 221.
Is input (step S1202), and the input image (data) is transferred (output) to the video data control unit 205 (step S1203, FIG. 11A), and the video data control unit 205 and the image forming unit (engine) ) 206
(Step S1204).

In this case, since the image processing in the image processor 204 is unnecessary, the image data control unit 203
No data transfer from the image processor 204 to the image processor 204 is performed. Therefore, process controller 2
Reference numeral 11 controls only the video data control unit 205 and the image forming unit (engine) 206.

(Processing Example 4) Next, a description will be given of printout processing involving image processing of an image stored in a memory. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the flow of the print output process, and FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the flow of the print output process.

In FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, when the read original is stored as it is and print output processing is performed while changing the content of image processing for the same data, or
When image processing is required to change the density of the print output data from C223,
The stored image is read by the image memory access control unit 221 (step S1401), and the image data control unit 203 inputs the image (data) from the image memory access control unit 221 (step S140).
2) The input image (data) is transferred to the image processor 204 (step S1403).

The image processor 204 arbitrarily changes the required image processing by changing the load data to the arithmetic processor, and executes the required processing (step S1404). The processed data is video and
Transferred to the data control unit 205 (step S140
5) Image reproduction (printer output) is performed by the video data control unit 205 and the image forming unit 206 (step S1406).

When the processing is to be changed, the load data of the image processor 204 is changed, the image stored in the memory is read again by the image memory access control section 221 and the processing is performed. The printout is performed by the image forming unit (engine) 206.

(Processing Example 5) Next, a description will be given of the contents of the simultaneous operation of facsimile transmission by magnification change processing with image rotation and printing of the processing result image in the memory. FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the flow of the simultaneous operation, and FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the flow of the simultaneous operation.

This corresponds to the processing shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 and the processing shown in FIG.
1. This is a simultaneous operation with the processing shown in FIG. 12, and the image memory access control unit 22 via the parallel bus 220
Since the video path from the image data control unit 203 to the image data control unit 203 competes with the two jobs, the use of the path is controlled by the system controller 2 to realize the parallel operation.
31.

When the simultaneous operation occurs, the system controller 231 arbitrates the access of each job of the memory and the video path. Data multiplexing is not performed on the video path, and the usage right is allocated to each job in a time-division manner. The system controller 231 controls the memory via the image memory access control unit 221 (step S1601). And the system
The controller 231 determines whether to access the memory during image magnification at the time of facsimile transmission or to read the memory at the time of printout (step S1602).

When transmitting the read image by facsimile, the competing video path is opened for facsimile transmission. That is, the image memory access control unit 221 reads out an image for facsimile transmission from the memory module 222 (step S1611), and the image memory access control unit 221 rotates the image by 90 degrees (step S1612).

Then, the system controller 231
As a result, the occupation right of the video path is given from the image memory access control unit 221 to the image data control unit 203 (step S1613), and the data is transferred for facsimile transmission. Similarly, the occupation right of the path from the image data control unit 203 to the image processor 204 is also given (step S1614), and the image processor 204
Transfer data to

The image processor 204 downloads the facsimile image processing parameters under the control of the process controller 211 and performs an arithmetic process (step S1615). Then, the system controller 231 gives the image data after the arithmetic processing the exclusive right of the video path from the image processor 204 to the facsimile control unit 224 (step S1616).

The image data is transferred from the image processor 204 to the facsimile control unit 224 via the parallel bus 220 via the image data control section 203 and transmitted by facsimile. That is, since the parallel bus 220 also needs to be occupied, during this facsimile transmission process,
No print output processing is performed.

On the other hand, when the printout of the stored image is performed, the image memory access control unit 221 controls the memory access.
The image data for print output is read from the module 222 (step S1621). Then, the image memory access controller 22 is controlled by the system controller 231.
1 to the image data control unit 203 (step S1622), and transfers the data to the image data control unit 203 for print output.

Since the arithmetic processing for the data is unnecessary, the occupation right of the video path is given from the image data control unit 203 to the video data control unit 205 (step S).
1623), thereby transferring the image data to the video data control unit 205. The video data control unit 205 performs pulse control on pixels for print output under the control of the process controller 211, and reproduces an image in the image forming unit (step S162).
4). Then, after the time-sharing priority time elapses,
Release the priority to the video path and give up the path.

(Processing Example 6) Next, the contents of the simultaneous operation of facsimile transmission by scaling processing with image rotation and image processing of an image stored in a memory and then printing will be described. FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the flow of the simultaneous operation, and FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the flow of the simultaneous operation.

This corresponds to the processing shown in FIG. 7 and FIG.
3. This is a simultaneous operation with the processing shown in FIG.
The video path from 1 to the image data control unit 203 and the arithmetic processing in the image processor 204 compete for two jobs, and the system controller 231 controls the use of the path in order to realize parallel operations. Operation control of the image processor 204 is performed by the process controller 211. The control instruction of the process controller 211 is transmitted to the system controller 23.
This is what 1 does.

When the simultaneous operation occurs, the system controller 231 arbitrates the access of each job of the memory, the video path, and the image processor 204. Data multiplexing is not performed for the video path.
Use rights are allocated to each job in a time-sharing manner.

The system controller 231 controls the memory module 222 via the image memory access control section 221 (step S180)
1). Then, the system controller 231 determines access to the memory module 222 at the time of image magnification at the time of facsimile transmission or reading of the memory module 222 at the time of printout (step S1802).

Here, when transmitting a read image by facsimile, a competing video path is opened for facsimile transmission. That is, the image memory access control unit 2
21 reads out an image for facsimile transmission from the memory module 222 (step S1811), and further performs 90-degree image rotation on the read out image by the image memory access control unit 221 (step S18).
1812).

Next, the system controller 231
Control of the video path from the image memory access control unit 221 to the image data control unit 203 and the image data control unit 203
4 is given an exclusive right to the video path (step S18).
13) Transfer the image data to the image processor 204.

Thereafter, the image processor 204 downloads the parameters of the facsimile image processing according to the instruction of the process controller 211 and performs an arithmetic processing (step S1814). Then, under the control of the system controller 231, the occupation right of the video path from the image processor 204 to the facsimile control unit 224 is given (step S181).
5).

As a result, the image data after the arithmetic processing is
From the image processor 204 to the image data controller 20
3 via the parallel bus 220 to the facsimile control unit 224 for facsimile transmission. Since the parallel bus 220 also needs to be occupied, no print output processing is performed during this facsimile transmission processing.

On the other hand, when printing out the stored image, the image memory access control unit 221 operates the memory
The image data for print output is read from the module 222 (step S1821). System controller 2
31 controls the image memory access control unit 221
The right to occupy the video path to the image data controller 203 and the right to occupy the video path from the image data controller 203 to the image processor 204 are given (step S).
1822), the data is transferred for print output.

The instruction from the system controller 231 gives the exclusive right to the image processing for print output of the image processor 204, and the image processor 204 downloads the parameters of the image processing for print output according to the instruction of the process controller 211. Then, a calculation process is performed (step S1823). After that, the right of occupation of the video path from the image processor 204 to the video data controller 205 is given (step S1824), and the image data after the arithmetic processing is transferred from the image processor 204 to the video data controller 205. I do.

Then, the video data control unit 205 performs pulse control on pixels for print output under the control of the process controller 211 (step S1825), and the image forming unit (engine) 206
To reproduce the image. After the elapse of the time-sharing priority time, the video path and the image processor 2
Release the exclusive right to 04 and surrender the path and image processor 204.

(Processing Example 7) Next, the contents of the simultaneous operation of facsimile transmission by image scaling processing in the image memory access control unit 221 and printing of a processing result image in the memory will be described. FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing the flow of the simultaneous operation, and FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the flow of the simultaneous operation.

This is a simultaneous operation of the processing shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 and the processing shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, and is performed by the image memory access control unit 2 via the parallel bus 220.
A video path from 21 to the image data control unit 203 competes for two jobs, and the system controller 231 controls the use of the path to realize parallel operations. Then, when the simultaneous operation occurs, the system controller 231 arbitrates the access of each job of the memory and the video path. Data multiplexing is not performed on the video path, and the usage right is allocated to each job in a time-division manner.

In FIGS. 19 and 20, the system controller 231 includes the image memory access control unit 22.
The control of the memory module 222 is performed via the control unit 1 (step S2001). Then, the system controller 231 determines whether to access the memory at the time of image magnification at the time of facsimile transmission or read the memory at the time of print output (step S2002).

Here, when transmitting a read image by facsimile, a competing video path is opened for facsimile transmission. That is, the image memory access control unit 2
21 reads the image for facsimile transmission from the memory module 222 (step S2011), and the image memory access control unit 221 performs two-dimensional image scaling according to a calculation instruction of the system controller 231 (step S2012).

Next, the system controller 231
The image memory access control unit 221 gives the right to occupy the video path of the image data control unit 203 (step S2013), and transfers the data for facsimile transmission. Similarly, the occupation right of the path from the image data control unit 203 to the image processor 204 is given (step S2014), and the data is transferred to the image processor 204.

The image processor 204 downloads the parameters of the facsimile image processing according to the instruction of the process controller 211 and performs the arithmetic processing (step S2015). The image processor 20 is controlled by the system controller 231.
4 gives the right to occupy the video path to the facsimile control unit 224 (step S2016). The image data after the arithmetic processing is transferred from the image processor 204 via the image data control unit 203 to the facsimile control unit 224 via the parallel bus 220 and transmitted by facsimile. Since the parallel bus 220 also needs to be occupied, no print output processing is performed during this facsimile transmission processing.

On the other hand, when the printout of the stored image is performed, the image memory access control unit 221 controls the memory
The image data for print output is read from the module 222 (step S2021). Then, the image memory access controller 22 is controlled by the system controller 231.
1 to the image data control unit 203 (step S2022), and transfers the data to the image data control unit 203 for print output.

Since arithmetic processing on data is unnecessary, the right to occupy the video path is given from the image data control unit 203 to the video data control unit 205 (step S).
2023), thereby transferring the image data to the video data control unit 205. The video data control unit 205 performs pulse control on pixels for print output under the control of the process controller 211, and causes the video data control unit 205 and the image forming unit 206 to reproduce an image (step S2024). Then, after the elapse of the time-sharing priority time, the priority for the video path is released and the path is surrendered.

(Processing Example 8) Next, the contents of the simultaneous operation of facsimile transmission by image scaling processing in the image memory access control section 221 and image processing of an image stored in the memory and then printing will be described. FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing the flow of the simultaneous operation, and FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the flow of the simultaneous operation.

This is a simultaneous operation of the processing shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 and the processing shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, and is performed by the image memory access control unit 2 via the parallel bus 220.
The video path from 21 to the image data control unit 203 and the arithmetic processing in the image processor 204 compete for two jobs, and the system controller 231 controls the use of the path to realize parallel operations. Operation control of the image processor 204 is performed by the process controller 211.

In FIGS. 21 and 22, the system controller 231 includes the image memory access control unit 22.
The control of the memory module 222 is performed via the control unit 1 (step S2201). Then, the system controller 231 determines whether to access the memory at the time of image magnification at the time of facsimile transmission or read the memory at the time of printout (step S2202).

Here, when transmitting a read image by facsimile, a competing video path is opened for facsimile transmission. That is, the image memory access control unit 2
21 reads the image for facsimile transmission from the memory module 222 (step S2211), and the image memory access control unit 221 performs two-dimensional image scaling according to a calculation instruction of the system controller 231 (step S2212).

Next, the system controller 231
As a result, the right to occupy the video path of the image data control unit 203 from the image memory access control unit 221 and the right to occupy the path from the image data control unit 203 to the image processing processor 204 are also given (step S2213). Transfer data.

The image processor 204 downloads the parameters of the facsimile image processing according to the instruction of the process controller 211 and performs an arithmetic processing (step S2214). The image processor 20 is controlled by the system controller 231.
4 gives the facsimile control unit 224 an exclusive right to the video path (step S2215). The image data after the arithmetic processing is transferred from the image processor 204 via the image data control unit 203 to the facsimile control unit 224 via the parallel bus 220 and transmitted by facsimile. Since the parallel bus 220 also needs to be occupied, no print output processing is performed during this facsimile transmission processing.

On the other hand, when printing out the stored image, the image memory access control unit 221 operates the memory
The image data for print output is read from the module 222 (step S2221). System controller 2
31 controls the image memory access control unit 221
To the image data control unit 203 and the exclusive right to the video path from the image data control unit 203 to the image processor 204 are given (step S).
2222) The data is transferred for print output.

The instruction from the process controller 211 gives the exclusive right to the image processing for print output of the image processor 204, and the image processor 204 downloads the parameters of the image processing for print output according to the instruction of the process controller 211. Then, a calculation process is performed (step S2223). Thereafter, the right of occupation of the video path from the image processor 204 to the video data controller 205 is given (step S2224), and the image data after the arithmetic processing is transferred from the image processor 204 to the video data controller 205. I do.

The video data control unit 205 performs pulse control on pixels for print output under the control of the process controller 211 (step S2225), and the video data control unit 205 and the image forming unit (engine). At 206, the image is reproduced. After the elapse of the time-sharing priority time, the exclusive right to the video path and the image processor 204 is released, and the path and the image processor 204 are surrendered.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image memory for writing / reading image data by controlling the reading unit 201, the sensor board unit 202, and / or the image memory for reading image data. An access control unit 221 and / or an image processing processor 204 for performing image processing such as processing / editing on image data and / or a video data control unit 205 for writing image data onto transfer paper or the like; an image forming unit 206 and / or an image The first image data read by the reading unit 201, the sensor board unit 202, and / or the first image data read by the image memory access control unit 221 are connected to a facsimile control unit 224 that transmits and receives data to and from an external device. 2
Image data and / or image processor 20
4 and / or the third image data subjected to the image processing.
Or receiving the fourth image data received by the facsimile control unit 224, and receiving the first image data and / or the second image data and / or the third image data and / or the fourth image Image data control unit 203 transmitting data to image memory access control unit 221 and / or to image processor 204 and / or to video data control unit 205 and / or to facsimile control unit 224
And a system controller 231 that controls switching of the right to use a path used when image data is transmitted and received between the units.

Therefore, when transmitting and receiving image data relating to different operations, collision of the image data can be avoided, the image data can be transmitted and received efficiently, and the transmission and reception time can be shortened. In addition, it is possible to efficiently process image data when performing parallel operations.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the image memory access unit 221 performs image processing such as processing / editing on image data to be written or image data to be read out. Or stored in the memory module 22
2 can be pre-processed for image processing before being transmitted to other units.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the image memory access control unit 221 performs the image rotation processing on the image data to be written or the image data to be read.
Share part of the image processing to be performed, the load on the image processing processor 204 can be reduced by that part, and the processing time of the entire processing can be shortened.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the image memory access control section 221 performs image scaling processing on image data to be written or image data to be read, so that the image processor 204
Share part of the image processing to be performed, the load on the image processing processor 204 can be reduced by that part, and the processing time of the entire processing can be shortened.

According to the present embodiment, the system
In response to a command from the controller 231, when the use of the path competes with different image data, the path is switched by time division, so that the competing image data can be transmitted and received efficiently, and the transmission / reception time can be reduced.

Further, according to the present embodiment, when image processing competes with different image data, the image processing processor 204 controls the image processing by time division, so that the image processing of the competing image data can be efficiently performed. And the processing time can be shortened.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the video path switching is controlled by the system controller 231 and the image processing is controlled by the process controller 211, the switching control and the image processing control can be shared. it can.

[0175]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading means for reading image data and / or an image memory control means for controlling image memory to write / read image data. and/
Or image processing means for performing image processing such as processing and editing on the image data and / or image writing means for writing the image data on transfer paper and / or image data transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving the image data to / from an external device, First image data read by the image reading means and / or
Alternatively, the second image data read by the image memory control means and / or the third image data subjected to image processing by the image processing means and / or the fourth image data received by the image data transmission / reception means Receiving image data and transferring the first image data and / or the second image data and / or the third image data and / or the fourth image data to the image memory control means and / or Image data control means for transmitting to the image processing means and / or to the image writing means and / or to the image data transmitting / receiving means; the image data control means; the image reading means; the image memory control means; Used to transmit and receive image data to / from the processing means, the image writing means, or the image data transmitting / receiving means. Switching means for controlling the switching of the use right of the path to be performed, when transmitting and receiving image data according to different operations, it is possible to avoid collision of the image data and efficiently transmit and receive the image data And reduce transmission and reception time,
This has the effect of providing an image processing apparatus that can efficiently process image data when performing parallel operations.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the image memory control means performs processing, editing, or the like on image data to be written or image data to be read. Image processing, image data stored in the memory or image data stored in the memory can be pre-processed for image processing before being transmitted to another unit. An effect is obtained that an image processing apparatus capable of efficiently performing processing of image data in the case of performing the processing is obtained.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the image memory control means performs image rotation processing on image data to be written or image data to be read. Is performed, a part of image processing to be performed by another unit (for example, image processing means) is shared, and the load on the other unit can be reduced by that part, thereby shortening the processing time of the entire processing. As a result, it is possible to obtain an image processing apparatus capable of efficiently processing image data when performing parallel operations.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the image memory control means performs image scaling on image data to be written or image data to be read. In order to perform the processing, a part of the image processing to be performed by another unit (for example, image processing means) is shared, and the load on the other unit can be reduced correspondingly, thereby shortening the processing time of the entire processing. As a result, an effect is obtained that an image processing apparatus capable of efficiently processing image data when performing parallel operations is obtained.

[0179] According to the invention described in claim 5, in the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 4, when the switching means competes for use of the path due to different image data. To switch by time division,
Competitive image data can be sent and received efficiently,
The transmission / reception time can be shortened, thereby providing an effect that an image processing apparatus capable of efficiently processing image data when performing parallel operations is obtained.

According to the invention described in claim 6, in the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 5, the image processing means is provided when the image processing competes with different image data. In order to control image processing by division,
Image processing of competing image data can be performed efficiently, processing time can be shortened,
This has the effect of providing an image processing apparatus that can efficiently process image data when performing parallel operations.

According to the invention of claim 7, in the invention of claims 1 to 6, since the switching means and the image processing means are controlled by separate control means, the control of the switching means Thus, an image processing apparatus capable of efficiently processing image data when performing a parallel operation can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram functionally showing a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a controller unit that performs system control and memory control of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a block configuration of an image memory access control unit of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of pre-processing of image data by the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a state of a stored image of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram for explaining a flow of main / sub electric scaling processing (processing 1) of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an image processing apparatus according to the embodiment (processing 1);
6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the main / sub electric scaling process.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram for explaining a flow of a scaling process (process 2) in the image memory access control unit of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a scaling process (process 2) in the image memory access control unit of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram for explaining a flow of a print output process (process 3) of the image stored in the memory of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a flow of a print output process (process 3) of the image stored in the memory of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram for explaining a flow of a print output process (process 4) accompanied by an image process of a memory stored image of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a flow of a print output process (process 4) accompanied by an image process of the image stored in the memory of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram for explaining the flow of processing (processing 5) of simultaneous operation of facsimile transmission and printing of a processing result image in a memory by facsimile transmission with image rotation by the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment; FIG.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a flow of a simultaneous operation (processing 5) of facsimile transmission by magnification change processing with image rotation and printing of a processing result image in a memory by the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a flow chart illustrating the contents (process 6) of the simultaneous operation of facsimile transmission by image scaling processing with image rotation and image processing of an image stored in a memory and then printing by the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment; FIG.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the flow of a simultaneous operation (process 6) of facsimile transmission by image scaling processing with image rotation and image processing of an image stored in a memory and then printing by the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment; It is.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the contents of a simultaneous operation (processing 7) of facsimile transmission by image scaling processing in the image memory access control unit of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment and printing of a processing result image in the memory; It is a block diagram for explaining.

FIG. 20 is a flow chart illustrating the contents (process 7) of the simultaneous operation of facsimile transmission by image scaling processing in the image memory access control unit of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment and printing of a processing result image in the memory; It is a flowchart shown.

FIG. 21 shows the contents of simultaneous operation of facsimile transmission by image scaling processing in the image memory access control unit of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment and image processing of an image stored in the memory and then printing the image (processing 8). It is a block diagram for explaining the flow of.

FIG. 22 shows the contents of simultaneous operation of facsimile transmission by image scaling processing in the image memory access control unit of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, and image processing of an image stored in the memory and printing after the image processing (processing 8). It is a flowchart which shows the flow of.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a reading mechanism of a general document reading unit.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a reading mechanism using a general sheet-through document feeder.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Image data control unit 101 Image reading unit 102 Image memory control unit 103 Image processing unit 104 Image writing unit 201 Reading unit 202 Sensor board unit 203 Image data control unit 204 Image processing processor 205 Video data control unit 206 Image formation Unit (engine) 210 Serial bus 211 Process controller 212,232 RAM 213,233 ROM 220 Parallel bus 221 Image memory access control unit 222 Memory module 223 Personal computer (PC) 224 Facsimile control unit 225 Public line 231 System Controller 234 Operation panel

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Kawamoto 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hideto Miyazaki 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shinya Miyazaki 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Takeshi Tone 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Fumio Yoshizawa 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Takusho Fukuda 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company (72 ) Inventor Rie Ishii 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Sugitaka Inoki 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock Association Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yasuyuki Nomizu 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term (reference) 5C062 AA02 AA05 AA30 AA35 AB02 AB41 AB43 AB44 AB46 AC24 AC67 AF06 AF10 AF11 BA00 5C073 AA06 AB04 BA03 BB07 CE01 5C076 AA21 AA22 AA24 BA03 BA04 BB42 CB01

Claims (7)

[Claims] An image memory control means for controlling image reading means for reading image data and / or image memory to write / read image data and / or
Or image processing means for performing image processing such as processing and editing on the image data and / or image writing means for writing the image data on transfer paper and / or image data transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving the image data to / from an external device, First image data read by the image reading means and / or
Alternatively, the second image data read by the image memory control means and / or the third image data subjected to image processing by the image processing means and / or the fourth image data received by the image data transmission / reception means Receiving image data and transferring the first image data and / or the second image data and / or the third image data and / or the fourth image data to the image memory control means and / or Image data control means for transmitting to the image processing means and / or the image writing means and / or to the image data transmitting / receiving means; the image data control means; the image reading means; the image memory control means; Used to transmit and receive image data to / from the processing means, the image writing means, or the image data transmitting / receiving means. An image processing apparatus, comprising: switching means for controlling switching of a use right of a path to be used. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image memory control means performs image processing such as processing and editing on image data to be written or image data to be read. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image memory control unit performs an image rotation process on image data to be written or image data to be read. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said image memory control means performs image scaling processing on image data to be written or image data to be read. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit switches in a time-division manner when the use of the path conflicts with different image data. . 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing unit controls the image processing by time division when the image processing competes with different image data. Processing equipment. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit and the image processing unit are controlled by separate control units.