JP2003080772A - Color image processor and imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the processing capacity of the entire print data processor by optimizing allocation of memory in the processor depending on a specified writing color thereby utilizing the memory effectively. SOLUTION: A memory allocation control section 223 alters allocation of the storage area required by a frame memory 213 depending on a specified using color stored in a using color storage section 222 and controls allocation of an area released by alteration to a writing work memory 212. When the using color changes from full color (page data area of 4 colors is allocated) to monochrome, allocation size to the frame memory 213 is altered from 4 colors to 1 color and the released area of 3 colors is allocated to the writing work memory 212 thus shortening the processing time of writing data. Release of a host unit can be quickened by allocating the released area to an input buffer 211.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for converting color image data input from a personal computer or the like into bitmap data for drawing and outputting the bitmap data to an image forming apparatus. The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for increasing the efficiency of processing by allocating an optimum memory according to a designation when processing is performed according to a drawing color.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a color printer has normally performed a process of converting color image data input from a personal computer or the like into bitmap data for drawing, and is provided with an image processing device for that purpose. This image processing apparatus is configured such that the color of the developer included in the connected image forming unit (print engine) (in the case of an electrophotographic type,
A frame memory (storage area for storing bitmap data) for bitmap expansion of image data is prepared for each toner color: normal, cyan: C, magenta: M, yellow: Y, black: K) There is a need to. Conventionally,
A method is known in which a storage area prepared as a frame memory for color image data processing is always fixed, that is, an area for all colors is held. In this method, image formation is performed using all colors. If not, memory resources cannot be used effectively. Therefore, a method has been proposed in which a necessary memory area is dynamically secured when image formation using all colors is not performed (JP-A-7-68849). In this method, a memory area for storing print data required for a designated color is secured so that the memory can be effectively used.

[0003]

However, in this conventional example (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-68849), an operation is performed to dynamically secure a region necessary for effective utilization in the frame memory. However, the idea of changing the memory area given to the frame memory according to the designated color (drawing color) is not shown. Therefore, the efficiency of the entire storage area used in the device is not considered, and a problem remains with respect to such efficiency.
In fact, due to this problem, the reception buffer (storage area for storing the image data input from the image input device) is insufficient in capacity, reception of print data from the host device is delayed, and a work area for drawing (input image Insufficient work area for converting data to bitmap data,
The delay in drawing caused a decrease in the efficiency of the entire printing operation. The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the conventional technology, and an object thereof is to perform a color image processing for converting color image data input from an image input device into bitmap data for drawing. When processing in accordance with a designated drawing color in a processing device, the memory allocation in the device is optimized according to the designation to effectively use the memory and improve the processing capacity of the entire image processing device. The color image processing device,
An image forming apparatus including the color image processing apparatus (for example,
Printers, multifunction machines, facsimile machines, etc.).

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided first storage means for storing color image data input from an image input device, and drawing color data designated for the input color image data. And a drawing data processing unit that converts the input color image data into bitmap data corresponding to a specified drawing color on a page-by-page basis, and a second area used as a work area for drawing data processing. A color image processing apparatus having storage means and third storage means for storing bitmap data after drawing processing, wherein allocation of storage areas held in the apparatus to the first to third storage means is controlled. Control means for controlling the allocation of the storage area required for the third storage means according to the acquired designated drawing color data. A color image processing apparatus according to claim.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the color image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the allocation control means changes the allocation of the storage area required for the third storage means in accordance with the designated drawing color data. Thus, the control is performed so as to allocate the area to be released to the first storage means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the color image processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the allocation control means allocates a storage area necessary for the third storage means according to designated drawing color data. It is characterized in that the storage area released by the change is assigned to the second storage means.

A fourth aspect of the invention is an image forming apparatus including the color image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A color image processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described based on the following embodiments shown with reference to the accompanying drawings. The color image processing apparatus of the present invention performs a process of converting color image data input from a personal computer or the like into bitmap data for drawing. Therefore, it can be used as an image data processing device for outputting to various types of devices in which bitmap data can be used, but here, as a printer as an image forming device that forms an image on a paper medium by the bitmap data to be output. The processing will be described by taking a processing device used for the device as an example.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement and data flow of a printer according to the present embodiment.
The configuration of the apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 100 denotes a host device such as a personal computer that creates print data, and normally creates created document / graphic data with PDL.
It is sent to the printer device 200 as print data in a format such as (page description language). A print data receiving unit 201 receives print data from the host device 100, and is a LAN.
And a connection function such as a parallel I / F with the host device 100. 202 is the P received from the host device 100.
A drawing data processing unit that converts print data in a format such as DL that cannot be immediately used as drawing data into bitmap format data that the print engine 204 can use for drawing. A print engine control unit 203 controls the print engine 204 and outputs drawing data used for printing to the print engine 204. A print engine 204 forms (prints) an image on a sheet based on the transmitted drawing data in the bitmap format. Any method such as an electrophotographic method and an inkjet method may be used as long as it is an image forming process based on drawing data in a bitmap format.

Reference numeral 211 is an input buffer for temporarily storing the print data received from the host device 100. Reference numeral 212 denotes a work memory for drawing processing used as a work area when the drawing data processing unit 202 performs the above-described processing. Reference numeral 213 is a frame memory that stores the bitmap-format print data output to the print engine 204 in page units. Reference numeral 221 denotes a used color input unit that specifies and inputs a drawing color used by the printer device for printing. The input of the used color information may be represented by a full color, monochrome, or a specific color such as red or blue when designated by a selection operation, or may be represented by a color sample. A used color storage unit 222 stores the used color data input to the used color input unit 221.
Based on the used color information stored here, each control unit of the apparatus makes settings necessary for processing color image data. In this example, the use color data stored in the use color storage unit 222 can be input from the use input unit 221 by a user operation.
If the setting is made in step 1, the input color data is input as print data, so the used color data acquired from the print data in the processing of the drawing data processing unit 202 is stored here. Reference numeral 223 denotes a memory allocation control unit that allocates to the frame memory 213 from a memory area in the device that is commonly used for processing color image data, based on the used color data in the used color storage unit 222.

Next, the operation of the printer apparatus having the configuration described above with reference to FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 2 shows the flow of printing processing, and FIG. 3 shows the flow of frame memory allocation control. When the printer device 200 is powered on and completes the initial setting when the power is turned on, the printer device 200 becomes ready for print processing and waits for print data to be sent (S2).
1). Here, when the print data receiving unit 201 receives the print data (S21-YES), the print data receiving unit 201
Saves the received print data in the input buffer 211. Next, the drawing data processing unit 202 starts drawing processing of the print data stored in the input buffer 211 (S22). Drawing data processing unit 202
Analyzes the data format and the set printing conditions.
As a result of the analysis, if the format of the print data is a format such as PDL data that cannot be immediately used for drawing data, it is converted into bitmap format data that can be passed to the print engine. The drawing data processing unit 202 uses the drawing work memory 212 as a work area at the time of drawing processing, and writes the bitmap data obtained as a processing result into the frame memory 213. When forming a full-color image, data for four colors (C, M, Y, K) is written in the frame memory 213. When the data for one page is created in the frame memory 213, the processing of the drawing data is completed. Therefore, the completion of the processing is confirmed (S23-YES), and the print engine control unit 203
Printing is started (S24), and the contents of the frame memory 213 are sent to the print engine 204. The print engine 204 forms an image (drawing) on a sheet based on the received page data in the bitmap format. In case of full color, 4 colors (C,
M, Y, K) data is used, but the drawing timing of the drawing data on the paper is sequential for each color in the multi-pass method and simultaneous in the tandem method. After the composite image of each color is formed on the paper and the fixing process is performed, the paper is ejected from the apparatus and the printing process ends.

The frame memory allocation control operation will now be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the memory allocation control unit 223, which controls the allocation of the storage area held in the device, operates in accordance with the drawing color designated by the user from the used color input unit 221.
It is possible to improve the memory usage efficiency and the processing capacity by performing control to change the allocation of the storage area required by 13. In the control flow of memory allocation, initial setting is performed when the power is turned on, and predetermined initial data such as data at the time of the previous end or full color correspondence data is set in the used color storage unit 222. The memory allocation control unit 223 first allocates a necessary storage area in the frame memory 213 according to this initial setting, and prepares for print processing (drawing data processing of step S22 in the print processing flow of FIG. 2). In this state, it waits until the used color is specified from the used color input unit 221 (S3
1). When the user operates the used color input section 221 to specify the used color (S31-YES), it is checked whether or not the used color has been changed (S32), and if there is no change (S32-NO). , The control operation by new input ends. As a result of the check, if there is any change (S32-YES), the used color data held in the used color storage unit 222 is rewritten with the newly input data, and the update processing is performed (S3).
3). Then, based on the updated used color data, the memory allocation control unit 223 allocates the storage area allocated to the frame memory 213 by the data before the update to an area required according to the updated used color and allocates the size. Is controlled (S34). For example, when full color is set and four color page data areas are allocated, but after the update is monochrome, the K1 color page data area is allocated and the three color area is released. Then, the allocation size to the frame memory 213 is changed. To change from monochrome to full color, conversely, allocation is performed to increase the area for three colors. In this way, by increasing or decreasing the allocation size to the frame memory 213 and allocating an unnecessary area to the frame memory 213, it is possible to improve the overall memory usage efficiency by eliminating waste.

[Embodiment 2] This embodiment is an embodiment in which the allocation control to the input buffer is changed in accordance with the allocation control to the frame memory in the above-mentioned Embodiment 1. Here, control is performed so that the area released by changing the allocation of the storage area required by the frame memory 213 according to the designated use color is allocated to the input buffer 211.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration and data flow of the printer device of this embodiment. As described above with respect to the features of this embodiment, the memory allocation control unit 223 is a device configured to be able to perform control for changing allocation to the input buffer in addition to the control operation of the first embodiment. Therefore, except for the configuration necessary for this operation, the device configuration of this embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is basically the same as the printer device of FIG. Therefore, the duplicated description will be omitted, and the description of the first embodiment will be referred to for the common elements. Referring to FIG. 4, the memory allocation control unit 22
3 determines the allocation of the storage area required by the frame memory 213 based on the used color data of the used color storage unit 222, and performs control to change the allocation. This operation is the same as that of the first embodiment, but the feature of the present embodiment is that the memory area released from the frame memory is allocated to the input buffer 211 when the allocation size to the frame memory 213 is reduced by the change. It is to make a mechanism to do. Therefore, this function is added to the memory allocation control unit 223, and the frame memory 213 and the input buffer 2 are controlled under the control condition.
11 will be allocated.

Here, the allocation control operation of the frame memory and the input buffer of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Although the print processing can be improved by using the memory area allocated by the allocation control operation described below, the print processing flow itself is not different from that of the first embodiment.
For the print processing flow, refer to the description related to the flowchart of FIG. 2 described in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the memory allocation control unit 223 that controls the allocation of the storage area held in the device allocates the storage area required for the frame memory 213 according to the drawing color specified by the user from the used color input unit 221. It is possible to increase the memory usage efficiency and improve the processing capacity by controlling the allocation of the area released to the input buffer 211 by changing the above.

In the control flow of memory allocation, initial setting is performed when the power is turned on, and predetermined initial data such as data at the time of the previous end or full color correspondence data is set in the used color storage unit 222. Memory allocation control unit 22
In 3, the frame memory 21 is first set according to this initial setting.
3 and the input buffer 211 are allocated storage areas to prepare for print processing (drawing data processing of step S22 in the print processing flow of FIG. 2). In this state,
The system waits until the used color is specified from the used color input unit 221 (S51). When the user operates the used color input unit 221 to specify the used color (S51-YES), it is checked whether or not the used color has been changed (S52), and when there is no change (S52-NO). , The control operation by new input ends. If there is a change as a result of the check (S52-YE
S), the used color data held in the used color storage unit 222 is rewritten with the newly input data, and the update processing is performed (S53).

Then, based on the updated used color data, the memory allocation control unit 223 allocates the storage area allocated to the frame memory 213 by the data before the update.
The allocation size is changed to a necessary area according to the updated used color, and the increase / decrease caused by changing the allocation to the frame memory 213 is controlled by changing the allocation size to the input buffer 211. (S54). For example, full color is set, and the area of page data for four colors is set in the frame memory 21.
When it is assigned to 3, but when the updated image is monochrome, the page data area for K1 color is allotted, so the allocation size to the frame memory 213 is changed to 1 color, and 3 colors are released. The minute area is allocated to the input buffer 211. On the contrary, when changing from monochrome to full color, the areas for three colors are input buffer 211
The allocation is performed by increasing the frame memory 213. In this way, by increasing or decreasing the allocation size to the frame memory 213 and the input buffer 211 and allocating an unnecessary area to the frame memory 213, it is possible to eliminate waste and allocate the memory amount to the input buffer 211 that requires the memory. It is possible to improve the overall memory usage efficiency.

[Embodiment 3] This embodiment is an embodiment in which the allocation to the drawing work memory is changed in accordance with the allocation control to the frame memory in the above-described Embodiment 1. Here, the area released by changing the allocation of the storage area necessary for the frame memory 213 according to the designated use color is the drawing work memory 21.
The control assigned to No. 2 is performed. Figure 6
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration and data flow of the printer device of this embodiment. As described above with respect to the features of the present embodiment, an apparatus configured so that the memory allocation control unit 223 can control to change the allocation to the drawing work memory in addition to the control operation of the first embodiment. Therefore, except for the configuration necessary for this operation, the device configuration of this embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is basically the same as the printer device of FIG. Therefore, the duplicated description will be omitted, and the description of the first embodiment will be referred to for the common elements. Referring to FIG. 6, the memory allocation control unit 223
However, based on the used color data in the used color storage unit 222, the allocation of the storage area required by the frame memory 213 is determined, and control is performed to change the allocation. This operation is similar to that of the first embodiment, but the feature of the present embodiment is that the memory area released from the frame memory is used as the drawing work memory 212 when the allocation size to the frame memory 213 is reduced by the change. There is a mechanism to control allocation. Therefore, this function is added to the memory allocation control unit 223, and the frame memory 213 and the drawing work memory 2 are controlled under the control condition.
Make 12 allocations.

Here, the allocation control operation of the frame memory and the drawing work memory according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Although the print processing can be improved by using the memory area allocated by the allocation control operation described below, the print processing flow itself is not different from that of the first embodiment.
For the print processing flow, refer to the description related to the flowchart of FIG. 2 described in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the memory allocation control unit 223 that controls the allocation of the storage area held in the device allocates the storage area required for the frame memory 213 according to the drawing color specified by the user from the used color input unit 221. It is possible to control the allocation of an area to be released to the drawing work memory 212 by changing the above, improve the memory usage efficiency, and improve the processing capacity.

In the control flow of memory allocation, initial setting is performed when the power is turned on, and predetermined initial data such as data at the time of the previous end or full color correspondence data is set in the used color storage unit 222. Memory allocation control unit 22
In 3, the frame memory 21 is first set according to this initial setting.
3 and the drawing work memory 212 are allocated storage areas to prepare for the printing process (drawing data process of step S22 in the printing process flow of FIG. 2). In this state,
The system waits until the used color is designated from the used color input unit 221 (S71). When the user operates the used color input unit 221 to specify the used color (S71-YES), it is checked whether or not the used color has been changed (S72), and if there is no change (S72-NO). , The control operation by new input ends. If there is a change as a result of the check (S72-YE
S), the used color data held in the used color storage unit 222 is rewritten with the newly input data, and the update processing is performed (S73).

Next, based on the updated used color data, the memory allocation control unit 223 stores the storage area allocated to the frame memory 213 by the data before the update.
Control for changing the allocation size to a necessary area according to the updated used color and adjusting the increase / decrease caused by changing the allocation to the frame memory 213 by changing the allocation size to the drawing work memory 212. Is performed (S74). For example, full color is set, and the area of page data for four colors is set in the frame memory 21.
When it was assigned to 3, but after the update is monochrome, the area of page data for K1 color is allotted, so the allocation size to the frame memory 213 is changed from 4 colors to 1 color and released. Areas for three colors are allocated to the drawing work memory 212. To change from monochrome to full color, conversely, an area for three colors is reduced from the drawing work memory 212 and increased to the frame memory 213. In this way, the frame memory 2
13 and the drawing work memory 212 are increased or decreased in size, and unnecessary areas are allocated to the frame memory 213. It becomes possible to improve the usage efficiency.

In the second or third embodiment, allocation control is performed to adjust the increase / decrease caused by changing the allocation to the frame memory 213 with the drawing work memory 212 or the input buffer 211 on a one-to-one basis. Although the example is shown, the drawing work memory 212
It is possible to perform the allocation control method in which both the input buffer 211 and the input buffer 211 are adjusted. Further, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image data processing apparatus in an existing multi-function machine (a copying machine in which a printer function, a facsimile function and the like are combined), a facsimile machine, etc., which is provided with an apparatus for inputting print data as an image input apparatus. As described above, the above-mentioned image data processing device can be implemented by replacing or applying it.

[0022]

(1) Effect corresponding to the invention of claim 1 It is necessary to allocate a storage area to a frame memory (storage means for storing bitmap data after drawing processing) according to a designated use color. Since the control is performed to change the size to the desired size, it is possible to eliminate the need to allocate an unnecessary area to the frame memory, improve the overall memory utilization efficiency, and improve the processing capacity. (2) Effect corresponding to the invention of claim 2 In addition to the effect of (1) above, it is released by changing the size so that the storage area is allocated to the frame memory in accordance with the designated use color. Control is performed to allocate the specified area to the input buffer, and even if the received print data is delayed due to the delay in drawing data processing,
Since the capacity of the buffer becomes large, the reception of data from the host device is less likely to be waited for, so that the host can be released early and the performance of the device can be improved. (3) Effect corresponding to the invention of claim 3 In addition to the effects of (1) and (2) above, the size is changed to a size that requires allocation of a storage area to a frame memory according to a designated use color. As a result, the control to allocate the released area to the work memory for drawing data processing is performed, so that the time required for processing the drawing data can be shortened and the performance of the apparatus can be improved. (4) Effects corresponding to the invention of claim 3 A printer equipped with the color image processing device of claims 1 to 3,
By realizing the effects (1) to (3) in an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral or a facsimile machine,
It is possible to improve the performance of the image forming apparatus.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration and a data flow of a printer device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of a printing process in the printer apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of frame memory allocation control in the printer device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration and a data flow of a printer device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of frame memory allocation control in the printer apparatus according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration and a data flow of a printer device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of frame memory allocation control in the printer device according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 ... Host device, 200 ... Printer device, 201 ... Print data receiving unit, 202 ... Drawing data processing unit, 203 ... Print engine control unit,
204 ... Print engine, 211 ... Input buffer, 212 ... Work memory for drawing data processing, 2
13 ... Frame memory, 221 ... Use color input unit, 222 ... Use color storage unit, 223 ... Memory allocation control unit.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A first storage means for storing color image data input from an image input device, a means for obtaining drawing color data designated for the input color image data, and an input color image. Drawing data processing means for converting the data into bitmap data corresponding to a specified drawing color on a page-by-page basis, a second storage means used as a work area for drawing data processing, and bitmap data after drawing processing A color image processing apparatus having a third storage means for storing the storage area, and a control means for controlling allocation of a storage area held in the apparatus to the first to third storage means. A color image processing apparatus, wherein control is performed to change the allocation of a storage area required for the third storage means according to the acquired designated drawing color data. 2. The color image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the allocation control unit is released by changing an allocation of a storage area required for the third storage unit according to designated drawing color data. A color image processing apparatus, wherein control is performed to allocate an area to the first storage means. 3. The color image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the allocation control unit is released by changing allocation of a storage area required for the third storage unit according to designated drawing color data. A color image processing apparatus, characterized in that control for allocating a predetermined storage area to the second storage means is performed. 4. An image forming apparatus comprising the color image processing apparatus according to claim 1. Description: