IMAGE DATA PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING DEVICE, AND IMAGE TRANSMITTING SYSTEM

• US 20060221415A1
• Filed: 03/08/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: KAWAMOTO, Hiroyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,646,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/518
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00236 using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer image input to or image output from a computer via a network H04N1/00209
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/56 Processing of colour picture signals H04N1/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33378 Type or format of data, e.g. colour or B/W, halftone or binary, computer image file or facsimile data

Abstract

In an image data processing device, correcting of input color image data, converting the input data to monochrome image, and judging whether the image expressed by the input color image data is a color image or a monochrome image, are all performed simultaneously; the corrected color image data and the converted monochrome image data are stored; and based on the judgment, any one of the color image data and the monochrome image data stored are transmitted to an external device via a communicating unit.

Claims

1. An image data processing device, comprising:

a color processor that performs a color image correcting process on input color image data;

a monochrome processor that performs a monochrome image converting process on the input color image data to convert the input color image data to monochrome image data, in parallel with the color image correcting process;

a color/monochrome judging unit that judges, in parallel with the color image correcting process, whether an image expressed by the input color image data is a color image or a monochrome image, thereby generating a judgment result;

a storage unit that stores the color image data processed by the color processor and the monochrome image data output by the monochrome processor;

a communicating unit that sends and receives commands and drawing information to and from an external device; and

a transmitting unit that transmits any one of the color image data and the monochrome image data after being stored, to the external device via the communicating unit based on the judgment result of the color/monochrome judging unit.

2. The image data processing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first resolution converting unit that performs a first resolution conversion on the input color image data and provides converted color image data to the monochrome processor; and

a second resolution converting unit that performs second resolution conversion on the input color image data and provides the converted color image data to the color processor.

3. The image data processing device according to claim 2, wherein

the second resolution converting unit performs the second resolution conversion of those color image data, which have undergone the first resolution conversion.

4. The image data processing device according to claim 3, wherein

the second resolution converting unit performs the second resolution conversion by converting the resolution to a low resolution by pixel skipping.

5. The image data processing device according to claim 1, wherein

the transmitting unit transmits the stored color image data when the external device designates “

color”

, transmits the stored monochrome image data stored when the external device designates “

monochrome”

, and transmits stored the color image data when the external device designates “

auto” and

the judgment result is “

color”

, and transmits the stored monochrome image data when the external device designates “

auto” and

the judgment result is “

monochrome”

.

6. The image data processing device according to claim 5, wherein

the monochrome processor converts the color image data to gray scale image data;

the storage unit stores the gray scale image data; and

when the external device designates “

monochrome (gray scale)”

, the transmitting unit transmits stored gray scale image data, and when the external device designates “

monochrome (binary)”

, the transmitting unit binarizes the stored gray scale image data to monochrome binary image data and transmits the monochrome binary image data.

7. The image data processing device according to claim 5, further comprising:

a binarizing unit; and

wherein

the monochrome processor converts the color image data to gray scale image data;

the binarizing unit binarizes the gray scale image data to monochrome binary image data;

the storage unit stores the color image data processed by the color processor and the monochrome binary image data output by the binarizing unit; and

when the external device designates “

monochrome (binary)”

, the transmitting unit transmits stored monochrome binary image data, and when the external device designates “

monochrome (gray scale)”

, the transmitting unit converts stored color image data to gray scale image data and transmits the gray scale image data.

8. The image data processing device according to claim 1, wherein

the transmitting unit also transmits the judgment result of the color/monochrome judging unit to the external device.

9. The image data processing device according to claim 1, wherein

the external device sends to the transmitting unit, a resend request including a designated reading mode, and

the transmitting unit, in response to the resend request and based on the image data stored in the storage unit, transmits image data, and an image data of a type corresponding to the designated reading mode.

10. An image processing device, comprising:

an image data processing device according to claim 1;

and

an image pickup unit that includes an image pickup element, generates color component image data of an image projected onto the image pickup element, and sends the color component image data to the image data processing device.

11. The image processing device according to claim 10, wherein

the image pickup unit is a document scanner that reads a document image to generate the color component image data.

12. The image processing device according to claim 11, wherein the document scanner is a flat-head document scanner, and includes

a light transmitting plate of large width, onto which an entire document surface is put in close contact, and that extends in subscan direction, and

a scanning optical system that illuminates the document surface through the light transmitting plate, reflects light reflected from the document surface in the subscan direction to thereby form an image on the image pickup element, and scans the document surface in the subscan direction.

13. The image processing device according to claim 12, wherein

when the external device designates “

multiple reading”

, the transmitting unit stores image data, respectively read from each page of the document in response to an input of a start reading document instruction, in a single image file generated in the storage unit, and when the external device notifies “

end of multiple reading”

, the transmitting unit transmits the image data to the external device.

14. The image processing device according to claim 12, wherein the document scanner further includes

a sheet-through document reading window of narrow width, installed in the subscan direction alongside the light transmitting plate at a subscan position such that the scanning optical system can scan the document, and

an automatic document feeder that conveys a document so that the document crosses the window in the subscan direction.

15. The image processing device according to claim 14, wherein

when the external device issues a “

use ADF”

instruction, the transmitting unit stores image data, respectively read from each page of document conveyed to the sheet-through document reading window by the automatic document feeder, in a single image file generated in the storage unit and, when the reading of all documents ends, the transmitting unit transmits the image data to the external device.

16. An image forming device, comprising:

an image data processing device according to claim 1;

a printer that can selectively produce on paper, any one of a color image and a monochrome image expressed by any one of color record component image data and monochrome record image data; and

a printing processor that converts drawing information, which an external device instructs to be printed, to printer-compatible image data, and outputs the printer-compatible image data to the printer.

17. An image forming device, comprising:

an image processing device according to claim 10;

a printer that can selectively produce on paper, any one of a color image and a monochrome image expressed by any one of color record component image data and monochrome record image data; and

a printing processor that converts color component image data, generated by the image pickup unit, and drawing information, which an external device instructs to be printed, to printer-compatible image data and outputs the printer-compatible image data to the printer.

18. An image transmitting system comprising:

a multifunction image forming device, including a color document scanner, a storage unit that stores image data, a color printer, a reading correcting unit that applies a reading correction to the image data generated by the color document scanner, an image quality correcting unit that converts the image data after the reading correction, to printer-compatible color image data to be printed out by the color printer, an image data transmitting bus, a control unit that controls flow of the image data from the color document scanner to the reading correcting unit and to the image data transmitting bus, and flow of the image data from the image data transmitting bus to the image quality correcting unit and to the color printer, a communicating unit that communicates with an external device, a read/write controlling unit that controls flow of the image data between the image data transmitting bus and the storage unit and, upon storing drawing information obtained from the external device via the communicating unit in the storage unit, makes the color printer print out the drawing information, and a sending unit that sends the drawing information in the storage unit to the external device via the communicating unit;

a communications medium that is any one of a communications line, a telecommunications line, and a network through which the communicating unit communicates with the external device; and

the external device that communicates with the multifunction image forming device via the communications medium; and

wherein

the image transmitting system exchanges the drawing information between the external device and the multifunction image forming device;

wherein

the external device includes an input unit, using which a user designates an image type from among “

color”

, “

auto”

, and “

monochrome”

, and instructs the multifunction image forming device, via the communications medium, to read and transmit an image of the image type designated by the user; and

,

in response to the instruction, the multifunction image forming device uses the color document scanner to read a document image, uses the reading correcting unit to perform a color image correcting process on color image data generated by the color document scanner, perform, in parallel to the color image correcting process, a monochrome image converting process on the color image data generated by the color image scanner to convert the color image data to monochrome image data, and judge, in parallel to the color image correcting process, whether an image expressed by the color image data generated by the color document scanner is a color image or a monochrome image, uses the read/write controlling unit to store the color image data, resulting from the color image correcting process, and the monochrome image data, resulting from the monochrome image converting process, in the storage unit, and after storing, transmits the color image data stored in the storage unit to the external device via the communicating unit if the designated image type is “

color”

, transmits the monochrome image data stored in the storage unit to the external device if the designated image type is “

monochrome”

, and if the designated image type is “

auto”

, transmits the color image data to the external device if the color/monochrome judgment result is “

color” and

transmits the monochrome image data to the external device if the judgment result is “

monochrome”

.

19. The image transmitting system according to claim 18, wherein

the reading correcting unit converts the color image data generated by the color document scanner to color image data of a first resolution, and then further converts the data to color image data of a second resolution, performs the monochrome image converting process on the color image data of the first resolution to convert the data to monochrome image data, and performs the color image correcting process on the color image data of the second resolution.

20. The image transmitting system according to claim 19, wherein

the reading correcting unit performs the conversion to the color image data of the second resolution by converting the color image data of the first resolution to a low resolution by pixel skipping.

21. The image transmitting system according to claim 19, wherein

the first resolution is more than the second resolution.

22. A method for processing image data, comprising:

performing a color image correcting process on input color image data;

converting the input color image data to monochrome image data, in parallel with the color image correcting process;

judging, in parallel with the color image correcting process, whether an image expressed by the input color image data is a color image or a monochrome image, thereby generating a judgment result;

storing the color image data processed by the color processor and the monochrome image data output by the monochrome processor;

communicating, including sending and receiving commands and drawing information to and from an external device; and

transmitting any one of the color image data and the monochrome image data after being stored, to the external device via a communicating unit based on the judgment result.

23. A method for processing an image, comprising:

the method for processing image data according to claim 22 performed by an image data processing device; and

generating color component image data of an image projected onto an image pickup element, and sending the color component image data to the image data processing device.

24. A method for image forming, comprising:

the method for processing image data according to claim 22;

printing selectively on paper, any one of a color image and a monochrome image expressed by any one of color record component image data and monochrome record image data; and

converting drawing information, which an external device instructs to be printed, to printer-compatible image data, and outputting the printer-compatible image data to a printer.

25. A method for forming an image, comprising:

the method for processing an image according to claim 23 performed by an image processing device;

printing selectively on paper, any one of a color image and a monochrome image expressed by any one of color record component image data and monochrome record image data; and

converting color component image data, generated by an image pickup unit, and drawing information, which an external device instructs to be printed, to printer-compatible image data, and outputting the printer-compatible image data to a printer.

26. A method applied to an image transmitting system, comprising:

communicating with and external device through a communications medium that is any one of a communications line, a telecommunications line, and a network;

sending stored drawing information to the external device;

storing drawing information obtained from the external device;

the external device designating an image type from among “

color”

, “

auto”

, and “

monochrome”

, to thereby instruct reading and transmitting an image of the designated image type;

processing, in response to the act of designating, including reading a document image to generate color image data;

performing color image correcting process on the color image data;

converting the color image data, in parallel to the color image correcting process, to monochrome image data;

judging, in parallel to the color image correcting process, whether an image expressed by the color image data is a color image or a monochrome image;

storing the color image data and the monochrome image data;

transmitting the color image data if the image type is “

color”

, transmitting the monochrome image data if the image type is “

monochrome”

, transmitting the color image data and if the image type is “

auto” and

the judgment result is “

color”

, and transmitting the monochrome image data if the image type is “

auto” and

the judgment result is “

monochrome”

;

printing out the image data on a printer.

27. An image data processing device, comprising:

color processing means for performing a color image correcting process on input color image data;

monochrome processing means for performing a monochrome image converting process on the input color image data to convert the input color image data to monochrome image data, in parallel with the color image correcting process;

color/monochrome judging means for judging, in parallel with the color image correcting process, whether an image expressed by the input color image data is a color image or a monochrome image, thereby generating a judgment result;

storing means for storing the color image data processed by the color processing means and the monochrome image data output by the monochrome processing means;

communicating means for sending and receiving commands and drawing information to and from an external device; and

transmitting means for transmitting any one of the color image data and the monochrome image data after being stored, to the external device via the communicating means based on the judgment result of the color/monochrome judging means.

28. An image processing device, comprising:

an image data processing device according to claim 27;

and

image pickup means that includes an image pickup element, for generating color component image data of an image projected onto the image pickup element, and sending the color component image data to the image data processing device.

29. An image forming device, comprising:

an image data processing device according to claim 27;

printing means for selectively producing on paper, any one of a color image and a monochrome image expressed by any one of color record component image data and monochrome record image data; and

printing processing means for converting drawing information, which an external device instructs to be printed, to printer-compatible image data, and outputs the printer-compatible image data to the printing means.

30. An image forming device, comprising:

an image processing device according to claim 28;

printing means for selectively producing on paper, any one of a color image and a monochrome image expressed by any one of color record component image data and monochrome record image data; and

printing processing means for converting color component image data, generated by the image pickup means, and drawing information, which an external device instructs to be printed, to printer-compatible image data and outputs the printer-compatible image data to the printing means.

31. An image transmitting system comprising:

a multifunction image forming means, including color document scanning means, storing means for storing image data, a color printing means, reading correcting means for applying a reading correction to the image data generated by the color document scanning means, image quality correcting means for converting the image data after the reading correction, to printer-compatible color image data to be printed out by the color printing means, an image data transmitting bus, a control means for controlling flow of the image data from the color document scanning means to the reading correcting means and to the image data transmitting bus, and flow of the image data from the image data transmitting bus to the image quality correcting means and to the color printing means, communicating means for communicating with an external device, read/write controlling means for controlling flow of the image data between the image data transmitting bus and the storing means and, upon storing drawing information obtained from the external device via the communicating means in the storing means, makes the color printing means print out the drawing information, and sending means for sending the drawing information in the storing means to the external device via the communicating means;

a communications medium that is any one of a communications line, a telecommunications line, and a network through which the communicating means communicates with the external device; and

the external device that communicates with the multifunction image forming means via the communications medium, and wherein

the image transmitting system exchanges the drawing information between the external device and the multifunction image forming means, wherein

the external device includes input means, using which a user designates an image type from among “

color”

, “

auto”

, and “

monochrome”

, and instructs the multifunction image forming means, via the communications medium, to read and transmit an image of the image type designated by the user, and

in response to the instruction, the multifunction image forming means uses the color document scanning means to read a document image, uses the reading correcting means to perform a color image correcting process on color image data generated by the color document scanning means, perform, in parallel to the color image correcting process, a monochrome image converting process on the color image data generated by the color image scanning means to convert the color image data to monochrome image data, and judge, in parallel to the color image correcting process, whether an image expressed by the color image data generated by the color document scanning means is a color image or a monochrome image, uses the read/write controlling means to store the color image data, resulting from the color image correcting process, and the monochrome image data, resulting from the monochrome image converting process, in the storing means, and after storing, transmits the color image data stored in the storing means to the external device via the communicating means if the designated image type is “

color”

, transmits the monochrome image data stored in the storing means to the external device if the designated image type is “

monochrome”

, and if the designated image type is “

auto”

, transmits the color image data to the external device if the color/monochrome judgment result is “

color” and

transmits the monochrome image data to the external device if the judgment result is “

monochrome”

.