Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Attribute control
Reexamination Certificate
1997-01-24
2001-12-18
Gabriel, Garcia (Department: 2624)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Attribute control
C358S001170
Reexamination Certificate
active
06331897
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing method and apparatus and, more particularly, to an image processing method and apparatus, which can color-output a character, figure, raster image, and the like on the basis of print data, a command, and the like sent from a host computer.
2. Related Background Art
FIG. 1
shows a coordinate system serving as a reference for, e.g., coordinate points designated when a figure or character is drawn using a PDL (Page Description Language) or a page description command (this coordinate system will be referred to as a user coordinate system hereinafter).
A hatched rectangular portion in
FIG. 1
indicates an effective print area (a possible draw area in a print sheet). As shown in
FIG. 1
, the length of the effective print area will be referred to as an effective print area height hereinafter, and the width will be referred to as an effective print area width hereinafter.
The coordinate system shown in
FIG. 1
is a two-dimensional x-y orthogonal coordinate system, and has an origin at the lower left corner of the effective print area, as shown in FIG.
1
.
The coordinate unit of this coordinate system can be desirably set (e.g., 0.01 mm, {fraction (1/72)} inch, and the like).
Description elements of the PDL for figure drawing and page description commands, which are set based on the above-mentioned user coordinate system, are analyzed in an image processing apparatus in the order of reception, and are converted into information to be developed on a memory.
FIG. 2
shows a coordinate system serving as a reference for creating the above-mentioned memory development information (this coordinate system will be referred to as a printer coordinate system hereinafter).
The coordinate unit of this coordinate system is determined by the resolution of an image processing apparatus used (for example, when the resolution is 300 dpi, the coordinate unit is {fraction (1/300)} inch).
A hatched rectangular portion in
FIG. 2
is the same as the effective print area in FIG.
1
.
This coordinate system is a two-dimensional x-y orthogonal coordinate system, and has an origin at the upper left corner of the effective print area.
FIG. 3
shows a memory map in an internal RAM area of a conventional image processing apparatus for performing color recording on the basis of the PDL or the page description command.
The RAM area is constituted by a system work memory, a vacant area, and page development memories (each corresponding to the size of the effective print area shown in
FIG. 2
) for Y (Yellow), M (Magenta), C (Cyan), and Bk (Black).
The system work memory is used as a storage area for information (variables, and the like) used in internal control of the image processing apparatus, a fixed work area, and the like.
The vacant area is used as an area for storing memory development information, a character cache memory, and the like.
FIG. 4
shows a paint color designation command of drawing attribute designation commands.
This command is used for designating a color for painting a portion inside a closed figure.
A command No. varies depending on drawing attribute designation, and is used for identifying command functions.
The content of a number-of-data parameter indicates the number of data following the number-of-data parameter.
For example, the content of a number-of-data parameter of a line color designation command is 4.
Y, M, C, and Bk values indicate density data values of Y (Yellow), M (Magenta), C (Cyan), and Bk (Black) as primary colors of coloring materials.
FIG. 5
shows an example of a polygon drawing command of drawing commands.
A command No. varies depending on drawing attribute designation, and is used for identifying command functions.
The content of a number-of-data parameter indicates the number of data following the number-of-data parameter.
Note that X and Y values of coordinates
1
to n are coordinates on the user coordinate system.
FIG. 6
shows an example of memory development information generated by analyzing the paint color designation command shown in FIG.
4
.
A command table No. is used for identifying each memory development information.
The contents of other parameters are the same as those in FIG.
4
.
FIG. 7
shows an example of memory development information generated by analyzing the polygon drawing command shown in FIG.
5
.
A command table No. is used for identifying each memory development information.
The content of a number-of-data parameter indicates the number of data following the number-of-data parameter.
X
1
, Y
1
, . . . , Xn, and Yn are coordinates converted into those on the printer coordinate system on the basis of the resolution of the image processing apparatus.
FIG. 8
shows a case wherein drawing of a polygon defined by four coordinates (100, 200), (200, 200), (200, 100), and (100, 100) is set on the user coordinate system shown in
FIG. 1
to have a coordinate unit of 1 mm.
FIG. 9
shows an example of a command issued when the polygon drawing shown in
FIG. 8
is set.
FIG. 10
shows a case wherein polygon drawing on the user coordinate system shown in
FIG. 8
is converted into polygon drawing on the printer coordinate system having a coordinate unit of {fraction (1/300)} inch (about {fraction (1/11.8)} mm).
As shown in
FIG. 10
, the effective print area height in this case is set to be 400 mm.
The four coordinates are (1,180, 2,360), (2,360, 2,360), (2,360, 3,540), and (1,180, 3,540).
FIG. 11
shows an example of memory development information of polygon drawing shown in
FIG. 10
, which information is generated by analyzing the polygon drawing command shown in FIG.
9
.
FIG. 12
shows an example of memory development information set for paint color designation shown in FIG.
6
.
In this case, each of Y, M, C, and Bk values ranges from 0 to 255. The Y value is set to be 255, and other values are set to be 0.
FIG. 13
shows an example of memory development information set for paint color designation shown in
FIG. 6
in a monochrome mode.
In the monochrome mode, a gray scale process using the coloring material Bk is performed in place of a color process using Y, M, C, and Bk.
The gray scale density value ranges from 0 to 255. In this example, a value “51” indicates a density “20” [(51/255)%].
FIG. 14
shows a state wherein the polygon shown in
FIG. 10
is divided using the coordinate unit of the printer coordinate system.
The minimum value of the Y-coordinate of this polygon is Y
PMIN
, and the maximum value of the Y-coordinate is Y
PMAX
.
In order to paint a portion inside this polygon, a paint pattern is developed on a development memory corresponding to a value between LEFTX and RIGHTX shown in FIG.
14
.
FIG. 15
is a flow chart showing an example of a process for painting a portion inside the polygon shown in FIG.
14
.
A drawing logic for the development memory of this example is “overwrite”.
In step S
300
, it is checked if a color mode is selected.
If YES in step S
300
, the flow advances to step S
301
, and a paint process in the color mode is performed, thus ending the process.
If NO in step S
300
, the flow advances to step S
302
, and a paint process in the monochrome mode is performed, thus ending the process.
FIGS. 16
to
21
are flow charts showing a summary of the paint process in the color mode in step S
301
in FIG.
15
.
In step S
310
, memory development information for paint color designation shown in
FIG. 6
is taken, and the flow advances to step S
311
.
In step S
311
, Y, M, C, and Bk values of paint colors are taken from the taken memory development information for paint color designation, and are respectively set in P_Y, P_M, P_C, and P_Bk. Thereafter, the flow advances to step S
312
.
In step S
312
, Y
PMIN
in
FIG. 14
is set in &bgr;, and the flow advances to step S
313
.
In step S
313
, LEFTX and RIGHTX defining a range of X to be painted are computed, and the flow advances to step S
314
.
In step S
314
, addresses and bits on a Y-page memory in
FIG. 3
corresponding to LEFTX and RIGHTX are co
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Gabriel Garcia
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