Image processing device

Abstract

To enable users to accurately recognize the colors used in an image. [Solution] The image forming apparatus 1 comprises a display unit 473, a document reading unit 5 that reads an image of a document, an extraction unit 101 that analyzes the document image data obtained by reading by the document reading unit 5 and extracts the colors used in the document image MG indicated by the document image data, a digitization unit 102 that digitizes the colors extracted by the extraction unit 101, color samples CS1 to CS4 that show the colors extracted by the extraction unit 101, and a control unit 100 that associates the digitized values ​​of the colors (color codes such as Hex) and location information indicating the location in the document image MG where the colors are used with the display unit 473 as color information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and particularly to the processing of a document image.

Background Art

[0002] The following Patent Documents 1 to 8 describe inventions related to the processing of color images, such as the printing of color images.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Patent Document 5

Patent Document 6

Patent Document 7

Patent Document 8

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] It is difficult for a person to accurately recognize the colors used in a document image by visual inspection. For example, it is difficult for a person to accurately distinguish between yellow and gold of the same yellow system by visual inspection. Although the above Patent Documents 1 to 8 describe the processing of color images, the inventions described in the above Patent Documents 1 to 8 do not accurately recognize the colors used in a document image and show them to the user.

[0005] This invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to enable users to accurately recognize the colors used in an image. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An image processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a display unit, an image acquisition unit for acquiring image data, an extraction unit for analyzing the image data to be processed acquired by the image acquisition unit and extracting the colors used in the image shown by the image data, a digitization unit for digitizing the colors extracted by the extraction unit, a color sample which is an image showing the colors extracted by the extraction unit, the numerical value of the colors digitized by the digitization unit, and position information indicating the position in the image where the colors are used, as color information displayed on the display unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] In this invention, the colors used in the original image are displayed numerically on the display unit, making it possible for the user to accurately recognize the colors used in the original image. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the appearance of an image forming apparatus to which an image processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 2] This is a functional block diagram schematically showing the main internal configuration of an image forming apparatus to which an image processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of a display screen shown on the display unit. [Figure 4] This flowchart shows an example of processing performed by the control unit of an image forming apparatus. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Hereinafter, an image processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of an image forming apparatus to which the image processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied. Figure 2 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the main internal configuration of the image forming apparatus.

[0010] Image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction device that combines multiple functions, such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function. Image forming apparatus 1 is composed of a control unit 10, a document feeding unit 6, a document reading unit 5, an image forming unit 12, a fixing unit 13, a paper feeding unit 14, an operation unit 47, a network interface unit 9, and a storage unit 8.

[0011] The document feeding unit 6 is configured to open and close on the upper surface of the document reading unit 5 by a hinge (not shown), and functions as a document holder cover when reading a document placed on a platen glass (not shown). The document feeding unit 6 is also called an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) or DP (Document Processor), and includes a document tray 61 on which documents are placed, and a document output tray 62 located below the document tray 61. The document feeding unit 6 supplies documents placed on the document tray 61 to the document reading unit 5 one by one and outputs the documents to the document output tray 62.

[0012] The document reading unit 5 is equipped with a scanner or the like and reads documents fed from the document feeding unit 6, or documents placed on the platen glass. The document reading unit 5 is also capable of sequentially reading multiple document images sent from the document feeding unit 6. The document reading unit 5 is an example of an image acquisition unit as described in the claims.

[0013] The process of reading a document in the image forming apparatus 1 will now be explained. The document reading unit 5 optically reads the image of the document supplied to the document reading unit 5 by the document feeding unit 6, or the document placed on the platen glass, and generates image data. The image data generated by the document reading unit 5 is stored in an image memory (not shown) or the like.

[0014] A description will be given of the case where an image forming operation is performed by the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming unit 12 includes a photosensitive drum, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, and a primary transfer device for each color, and is a mechanism for forming an image on a recording paper as a recording medium by secondary transfer via an intermediate transfer belt. The image forming unit 12 forms an image on the recording paper fed from the paper feeding unit 14 based on the image data generated by the original reading operation, the image data stored in the image memory, etc., the image data received from a computer connected to the network, etc., and creates a printed matter.

[0015] The fixing unit 13 is a fixing device including a heat roller, a pressure roller, and a drive mechanism for rotationally driving these, and heats and pressurizes the recording paper on which an image is formed by the image forming unit 12 with the nip formed by the above two rollers to fix the image on the recording paper. The recording paper subjected to the fixing process is discharged to the discharge tray 151.

[0016] The paper feeding unit 14 includes a paper feeding cassette 141, and further includes a pickup roller, a conveyance roller, a conveyance path, and a rotation drive mechanism for each roller that pick up the recording paper from the paper feeding cassette and feed it to the image forming unit 12.

[0017] The operation unit 47 includes various hard keys operated by the user, and receives instructions such as an image forming operation execution instruction from the user regarding various operations and processes that the image forming apparatus 1 can execute according to the operation of the hard keys.

[0018] The operation unit 47 includes a display unit 473 that displays operation guidance to the operator, etc. Further, the operation unit 47 receives an input of an instruction from the user based on an operation (touch operation) by the user on the screen displayed on the display unit 473 via the touch panel included in the display unit 473.

[0019] The display unit 473 consists of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like. When an operator touches a button or key displayed on the screen, the touch panel receives an instruction corresponding to the touched location. In this case, the touch panel functions as an operation unit.

[0020] The network interface unit 9 is a communication interface that transmits and receives various types of data with external devices (e.g., personal computers) within the local area network or on the internet.

[0021] The storage unit 8 is a high-capacity storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive), and stores various control programs and the like.

[0022] The control unit 10 comprises a processor, RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), and dedicated hardware circuitry. The processor is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). The control unit 10 includes a control unit 100, an extraction unit 101, and a digitization unit 102.

[0023] The control unit 10 functions as a control unit 100, an extraction unit 101, and a digitization unit 102 through the operation of the processor in accordance with the control program stored in the memory unit 8. However, the control unit 100, etc., can also be configured by hardware circuits, rather than by operation in accordance with the control program of the control unit 10. The same applies to each embodiment below unless otherwise specified.

[0024] The control unit 100 is responsible for the overall operation control of the image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 100 is connected to the document feeding unit 6, document reading unit 5, image forming unit 12, fixing unit 13, paper feeding unit 14, operation unit 47, network interface unit 9, and storage unit 8, and performs drive control of each of these units and executes various processes necessary for image formation by the image forming apparatus 1.

[0025] The extraction unit 101 analyzes the document image data obtained by the document reading unit 5 and extracts the colors used in the document image data indicated by the document image data. The document image data obtained by the document reading unit 5 is an example of the image data to be processed obtained by the image acquisition unit in the claims.

[0026] The digitization unit 102 performs a process to digitize the colors extracted by the extraction unit 101. The numerical values ​​of the colors can be represented by color space coordinates. Color space coordinates can be represented by color codes such as Hex, RGB, HSV, or CMYK. Known processes are used for digitizing the colors, and existing color measurement methods are employed for digitizing the colors.

[0027] The control unit 100 controls the display of the display unit 473 to display the color information on the display unit 473, as shown in Figure 3 as an example, by associating the color samples CS1 to CS4, which are images showing the colors used extracted by the extraction unit 101, the numerical values ​​(Hex, etc.) of the colors used, which are digitized by the digitization unit 102, and the location information indicating the position (Location) of the original image MG in which the colors are used. The display screen G1 shown in Figure 3 displays the original image MG and the color information used as described above.

[0028] Furthermore, the control unit 100 displays the above numerical values ​​on the display unit 473 using two or more different notations. For example, as shown in Figure 3, the control unit 100 displays the color values ​​using four color codes: Hex, RGB, HSV, and CMYK.

[0029] Furthermore, the control unit 100 displays the original image MG on the display unit 473, and as shown in the example in Figure 3, it displays dividing lines (vertical dividing line L1 and horizontal dividing line L2) that divide the original image MG vertically and horizontally on the original image MG, and also displays horizontal position codes (alphabetical letters A to H) that identify the horizontal position of each section BL and vertical position codes (Arabic numerals 1 to 8) that identify the vertical position of each section BL around the original image MG. In addition, the control unit 100 displays horizontal and vertical position codes on the display unit 473 as location information (an example of location information in the claims) that indicate the section BL within the original image MG where the color used is applied.

[0030] For example, the control unit 100 associates the color sample CS1 with the color code (Hex: #fcc5d8, etc.) of the color shown in the color sample CS1, and also displays the location (section BL; an example of "location" in the claims) in the original image MG where the color shown in the color sample CS1 is most widely used, as a representative location where that color is used, using a combination of horizontal and vertical position codes "D2".

[0031] The color information displayed on the display unit 473 includes, for example, the information of the colors with the largest area size in the original image MG, from the 1st to the Nth (where N is a natural number). Alternatively, the color information displayed on the display unit 473 includes the information of the colors with the largest area size in the original image MG, excluding black and white, from the 1st to the Nth. The display screen G1 shown in Figure 3 is displayed on the display unit 473 when N is set to 4.

[0032] Next, an example of the process for displaying the color codes of the colors used in the original image by the image forming apparatus 1 will be explained using the flowchart shown in Figure 4. This process is performed when the operation unit 47 receives an instruction from the user to display the color codes of the colors used in the original image, and then receives an instruction from the user to read the original image.

[0033] When the operation unit 47 receives a command from the user to read an image of the original document, the control unit 100 controls the operation of the document reading unit 5, etc., and causes the document reading unit 5 to read the image of the original document being fed from the document feeding unit 6, or the image of the original document placed on the platen glass (S1).

[0034] The extraction unit 101 analyzes the document image data obtained by the document reading unit 5 and extracts the colors used in the document image MG, excluding black and white, that have the largest area size in the document image MG from the first to the fourth largest, as the colors used (S2).

[0035] To extract colors that cover a wide area in the original image MG, known techniques are employed. For example, the extraction unit 101 generates a frequency distribution of the colors used in the original image MG and extracts the top N colors with the highest frequencies, excluding black and white, as the colors used.

[0036] Next, the digitization unit 102 digitizes the colors used, which were extracted by the extraction unit 101 (S3).

[0037] The control unit 100 identifies a representative location (section BL) within the original image MG where the color extracted by the extraction unit 101 is used (S4). For example, the control unit 100 identifies the section with the largest area where the color is used as the representative location.

[0038] The control unit 100 generates a display screen G1 (Figure 3) that shows color usage information, which associates a color sample CS showing the colors used extracted by the extraction unit 101, the numerical value of the colors used digitized by the digitization unit 102, and location information indicating the location (section BL) within the original image MG where the colors are used (S5), and displays the generated display screen G1 on the display unit 473 (S6). After this, this process ends.

[0039] In the above embodiment, the colors used in the original image MG are displayed numerically on the display unit 473, making it possible to show the user the exact colors used in the original image MG. This allows the user to accurately recognize colors and color components that cannot be accurately recognized by visual inspection alone.

[0040] Furthermore, the image shown on the display screen G1 on the display unit 473 may be formed and printed on recording paper by the control unit 100 in accordance with user instructions received by the operation unit 47, attached to an email and sent to a specified address via the network interface unit 9, saved in the storage unit 8, or output to an external storage medium such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory.

[0041] The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiments and various modifications are possible. Furthermore, the configuration and process shown in the above embodiments using Figures 1 to 4 are merely one embodiment of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention to such configuration and process. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1. Image forming apparatus 5. Manuscript reading unit 100 Control Unit 101 Extraction part 102 Numericalization Section 473 Display section

Claims

1. Display unit and Image acquisition unit that acquires image data, An extraction unit analyzes the image data to be processed acquired by the image acquisition unit and extracts the colors used in the image data. A digitization unit that digitizes the colors used extracted by the extraction unit, An image processing apparatus comprising: a color sample which is an image showing the color used extracted by the extraction unit; a control unit which causes the display unit to display the numerical value of the color used, which has been digitized by the digitization unit, and position information indicating the position in the image where the color used is used, as color used information.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit uses color information of the widest range of regions used in the image, from the 1st to the Nth (where N is a natural number)th region.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit uses information of colors that are the largest in area used in the image, from the 1st to the Nth largest, excluding black and white, as the used color information.

4. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit displays the numerical values ​​of the colors used on the display unit in two or more different notations.

5. The control unit, The aforementioned image is displayed on the display unit, dividing lines that divide the original image vertically and horizontally are displayed on the image, and horizontal position codes that specify the horizontal position of each section and vertical position codes that specify the vertical position of each section are displayed around the original image. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the horizontal position code and the vertical position code indicating the section in the image in which the color used is used are displayed on the display unit as the position information.

Images