Copy system and copy controller

Details Copy system and copy controller Copy system and copy controller

1997-09-05

2001-07-03

Nguyen, Madeleine (Department: 2622)

Facsimile and static presentation processing

Static presentation processing

Communication

C358S442000, C358S434000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06256105

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a copy system and a copy controller, and more particularly to a copy system composed of a scanner, a plotter, and a copy controller, as well as to the copy controller itself.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional color copy system is generally composed of a computer into which an image processing program has been installed, and a color scanner and a color plotter connected to the computer via cables. Since such a conventional system has been designed to provide high performance, a user is required to have expert level technical knowledge on color management, and to memorize how to set and operate the image processing program through use of a thick manual. Therefore, using the conventional color copy system is difficult for beginners (untrained persons).
Moreover, in the conventional color copy system, after complete image data of an original document obtained through use of a scanner are first stored into a magnetic disk device or a similar device, image processing is performed for the image data, and an image obtained through the image processing is then output to the plotter. Therefore, the computer must have a storage means having a large capacity for storing complete image data. Moreover, the total processing time from the start of input of image data to the start of output of an image is sometimes on the order of a few tens of minutes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a copy system that uses a dedicated copy controller which is formed separately from a scanner and a plotter and is connected to the scanner and the plotter via interfaces and cables.
Another object of the invention is to provide a dedicated copy controller which is formed separately from a scanner and a plotter and is connected to the scanner and the plotter via interfaces and cables.
To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a copy system which comprises a scanner having an interface, a plotter having an interface, and a copy controller which is formed separately from the scanner and the plotter and is connected to the scanner and the plotter via interfaces and cables. In accordance with an operation command from an operation section, the copy controller reads in image data from the scanner one line or one block at a time and performs image processing for the image data, and outputs processed image data to the plotter one line or one block at a time.
The present invention also provides a copy controller which, in accordance with an operation command from an operation section, reads in image data from a scanner one line or one block at a time, performs image processing for the image data, and outputs processed image data to a plotter one line or one block at a time.
In the copy system and the copy controller according to the present invention, the scanner is preferably a color scanner and the plotter is preferably a color plotter.
In the copy system and the copy controller according to the present invention, the scanner preferably has a structure such that the resolution of the scanner can be set in accordance with a command input from the outside, and the copy controller preferably has a structure such that it calculates the number of pixels in accordance with the size and resolution of an output image to be output by the plotter, calculates an enlargement ratio of an original document based on the number of pixels, calculates a resolution of the scanner based on the thus-calculated enlargement ratio, outputs a command to the scanner to designate the thus-determined resolution, reads In image data from the scanner one line or one block at a time, and outputs the image data to the plotter one line or one block at a time in order to obtain an enlarged or reduced copy.
In the copy system and the copy controller according to the present invention, the scanner preferably has a structure such that the resolution of the scanner can be set in accordance with a command input from the outside, the plotter preferably has a structure such that the enlargement ratio of the plotter can be set in accordance with a command input from the outside, and the copy controller preferably has a structure such that it calculates the number of pixels in accordance with the size and resolution of an output image to be output by the plotter, calculates an enlargement ratio of an original document based on the number of pixels, calculates a resolution of the scanner and an enlargement ratio of the plotter based on the thus-calculated enlargement ratio, outputs commands to the scanner and the plotter to designate the thus-determined resolution and enlargement ratio, reads in image data from the scanner one line or one block at a time, and outputs the image data to the plotter one line or one block at a time in order to obtain an enlarged or reduced copy.
In the copy system and the copy controller according to the present invention, after inputting image data from the scanner one line or one block at a time and performing imaging processing for the image data, the copy controller may output the processed image data of the same line or block a plurality of times for each scan of the plotter in the main scan direction. This operation enables the same image to be printed a plurality of times through use of a memory having a capacity for at least one line or one block, of image data.
In the copy system and the copy controller according to the present invention, the copy controller may divide an original image into a plurality of sections in the main scan direction, and repeats an operation for reading the original image one section at a time and for outputting the thus-read image to the plotter, so that an enlarged image whose width is greater than the width of printing paper is printed in the form of divided images. This operation enables an enlarged image having a width greater than the printing paper width to be printed in the form of divided images through use of a memory having a capacity for at least one line or one block of image data.
In the present invention, since a dedicated copy controller is used, a user is not required to know complicated and troublesome setting and operation methods of an image processing program. Thus, even a beginner can perform enlargement/reduction copy through quite simple operation. Accordingly, the copy system and the copy controller of the present invention can be used widely to produce copies of textbooks, teaching materials, posters, etc. at educational institutions such as conventional schools and crammers schools; copies of posters, notices, etc. at public facilities such as train and bus stations, city halls, community centers, and hospitals; and copies of advertising leaflets, posters, etc. at commercial facilities such as department stores, supermarkets, home centers, coops, and retail shops. Also, the copy system and the copy controller of the present invention can be used to copy designed illustrations and the like in the apparel industry. Moreover, the copy system and the copy controller of the present invention can be used to provide outputting services at copy shops, stationery shops, DPE shops, department stores, supermarkets, home centers, co-ops, etc.
Since the dedicated copy controller alternately repeats input and output of image data one line or one block at a time in order to carry out successive copy processing in real time, the capacity of the memory provided in the copy controller can be reduced. Also, since the overall amount of processing in the copy controller decreases, the time required to complete copy processing can be shortened.
Moreover, since the copy system can be built up through combined use of the dedicated copy controller and various kinds of existing scanners and plotters, the copy system can easily be constructed at reduced costs according to a user's desire.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4910607 (1990-03-01), Kita et al.
patent: 5058038 (1991-10-01), Motoyama et al.
patent: 5099336 (1992-03-01), Moriya
patent: 5113267

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