Facsimile and static presentation processing – Natural color facsimile – Intermediate storage
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-15
2001-10-23
Lee, Cheukfan (Department: 2622)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Natural color facsimile
Intermediate storage
C358S518000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06307651
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method for processing color image data.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, a color image read processing apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus, a copy machine, a scanner or the like which can read a color original has been developed.
In such the conventional color image read processing apparatus, after an analog signal inputted from a reader such as a scanner or the like is analog-to-digital converted, image processing is performed by controlling on a system side.
In a case where luminance signals, i.e., R (red), G (green) and B (blue) signals which were read and inputted by the reader are converted into density signals, i.e., C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow) and K (black) signals to be outputted to a printer, the inputted luminance signals are sequentially processed. Then, for subsequent processes, the C, M, Y and K signals are transferred to an image buffer and/or an image memory in the form of a mixture of respective color components, e.g., pixel sequentially.
For example, in a system where R, G and B components in the original are read line-sequentially and time-divisionally, if each of the R, G and B components is read in 5 ms and original feeding of one line is performed in 5 ms, a time necessary for image reading working of one line is a total 20 ms.
In a case where an A4-size original is read in a main-scan direction in 8 Pels/mm, in order to terminate transferring working of C, M, Y and K signals in time to reading speed, if the luminance signal of the B component is inputted after the R and G components of one line are inputted, the C, M, Y and K signals are sequentially outputted for each pixel. Therefore, since the one line is transferred in 5 ms, data transferring must be performed for image signals including total 6912 pixels for the C, M, Y and K signals. Further, in order to output the binarized C, M, Y and K signals, the data transferring is performed in a state where the C, M, Y and K components are mixed with others in a unit of one bit, or the C, M, Y and K components are subjected to buffering and then transferred in a unit of eight bits or sixteen bits, and thereafter the image signals are stored in a next buffer in the form where the C, M, Y and K components are mixed with others in a unit of eight bits or sixteen bits.
However, in the conventional manner where the analog signal from the reader is analog-to-digital converted and then the image process is performed by the controlling on the system side, if multivalue data is managed in such image process, a load for the process increases, so that performance of the entire system comes to depend on the capability or bus speed of a CPU. Therefore, in order to realize the high-speed process, it is necessary to significantly change the system.
For example, when the process is performed by a dedicated hardware operating by controlling of another CPU, if the image data is processed coincidently with the reading speed of the reader, there is a problem that system operation becomes unstable when the reading is performed according to the load on the system side.
Further, when the read luminance signals (R, G and B) are converted into the density signals (C, M, Y and K) to be outputted to a print means such as a printer or the like, the inputted luminance signals are sequentially processed, and then for the subsequent processes, the C, M, Y and K signals are transferred to the image buffer and/or the image memory in the form of mixture of the respective color components (e.g., pixel sequentially). However, when these data are outputted to a printer in which print dots are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the main-scan direction in an ink jet method or the like, there are the following problems.
(1) In order to transfer each color data, pixel by pixel, in synchronism with a reading trigger, in the above-described conventional example, the C, M, Y and K signals must be outputted during a time of inputting the B component. Therefore, in order to transfer the data without lack of image information, a system must be designed which can perform an extremely high-speed and complicated image process, thereby increasing the cost of an entire apparatus.
(2) When a record unit is a serial-type record unit (i.e., print dots are arranged in sub-scan direction) such as the ink jet printer, a process (longitudinal-to-lateral converting) is necessary to re-arrange the image information in the sub-scan direction such that the image read in the main-scan direction can be recorded by the plural lines coincidently with a printing method of a record head. Therefore, when the image is transferred to the record unit, if such transferring is performed in a state that the respective colors are mixed in one pixel, an extremely high-speed and complicated process is necessary to match the image with the printing method of the record head.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made to solve at least one of the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to perform longitudinal-to-lateral converting on image data inputted in a unit of a pixel, by simple writing and reading control.
In order to achieve the above object, according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, there are provided:
a first write means for serially inputting each of plural kinds of color component data on each pixel, and writing each color component data into a first line buffer on each line;
a second write means for reading in a unit of a line each color component data written in the first line buffer, and writing each color component data corresponding to the plural lines into a second line buffer having a storage capacity which is larger than that of the first line buffer;
a conversion means for performing the longitudinal-to-lateral converting by using each color component data corresponding to the plural lines written in the second line buffer; and
an output means for serially outputting a visible image representing each color component data corresponding to the plural lines converted by the conversion means.
An another object of the present invention is to perform an image process on inputted image data at high speed and also to smoothly transfer the image-processed data to another system at independent timing.
A further another object of the present invention is to provide structure which can transfer, when the image data is transferred to the another system, the data in a form suitable for an image process in the another system.
In order to achieve the above objects, according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, there are provided:
an image process unit for performing an image process on color component data of plural colors serially inputted by a predetermined input means, in response to a first sync signal;
a first write means for writing the image data image-processed by the image process unit, into a first line buffer in response to the first sync signal; and
a second write means for writing the image data stored in the first line buffer, into a second line buffer operating in response to a second sync signal.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5729664 (1998-03-01), Ishikawa
patent: 5867279 (1999-02-01), Funamizu et al.
Bannai Nobuyuki
Hirai Nobuyuki
Morita Mitsuo
Ohtani Atsushi
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Lee Cheukfan
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