JPH02281877A - Multicolor picture information generating device and image processor using the device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To generate multicolor picture information which requires no overlap processing at every color, while holding a state that a color and density are discriminated, and holding a state that a relation of a picture element position and color density is discriminated by generating density information and color information from information related to the original picture, and forming them as a pair and outputting it by a picture element unit. CONSTITUTION:From information related to the original picture 1, a density information generating 2 generates its density information by a prescribed picture element unit, and also, a color information generating means 3 generates its color information. Subsequently, a color picture information output means 4 outputs density information D and color information C generated by each generating means 2, 3 as a pair. In such a way, while holding a state that a color and density are discriminated, and a state that color density in each picture element position is discriminated, multicolor picture information which requires no overlap processing at every color can be generated.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention generates multicolor image information necessary to form an image corresponding to an original image in a form that allows color and density to be identified in pixel units. The present invention relates to a multicolor image information generation device 5A, and further relates to an image processing device that uses this device and processes the generated multicolor image information in various ways in the process of image formation.

[Prior Art] Multicolor image forming devices that reproduce independent colors for each pixel, such as digital two-color copying machines, do not reproduce a composite color of multiple color components, but instead reproduce a read image (original image). )
A multicolor image information generation device is used that generates multicolor image information necessary for image formation corresponding to .

Conventionally, this type of multicolor image information generation device discriminates colors pixel by pixel based on optically read information about the original image, and outputs the degree information pixel by pixel in each color classification system. be. For example, in the case of a black and red two-color copier,
It has a system that outputs density information about black pixels and a system that outputs density information about red pixels.

Furthermore, an image processing apparatus using such a multicolor image information generation apparatus has a structure that includes a processing system that performs processing for each color. Looking specifically at black and red two-color copying machines, there are two systems: one that performs image processing such as enlarging, reducing, tilting, and reversing, as well as various types of filtering and correction processing for black pixels, and one that performs red pixel processing. It is equipped with two systems. Then, the density information obtained through pixel-by-pixel processing in separate processing systems for each color is provided to the corresponding color image forming section, and the corresponding color jTW image formed by each image forming section is recorded. A multicolor image that reproduces a plurality of colors is formed by combining them on a sheet.

In particular, in the case of the above-mentioned two-color copying machine, each color is written on the photoreceptor using a laser writing device that modulates black density information and a laser Fl''-1 device that modulates red density information. A latent image is formed, and a two-color red and black image is formed on a recording sheet or the like through processes such as corresponding black development or red development and further transfer.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, in the conventional multicolor image information generation device that outputs the density information for each color in a separate system as described above, the density information for each color that is output for each pixel in the subsequent stage is When processing information in parallel, the processing device has no choice but to have a wasteful device configuration.

In addition, when storing the multicolor image information for each color, a relatively large amount of memory is required, and when the multicolor image information is transferred by fax etc., the amount of information transferred is were relatively large.

This is based on the following reasons.

If we assume that each pixel reproduces an independent color rather than a composite color of multiple color components, the pixels of each color will not overlap, and even if each color is processed in parallel, In unit processing, pixels of each color are not processed simultaneously.

Although the pixels of each color are not processed at the same time, it is necessary to always maintain a state in which color and density are identified, so the same processing system must be installed separately for each color. be.

In addition, when saving or transferring a multicolor image, it is necessary to maintain a state in which the color density at each pixel position is identified, so density information for all pixels that are paired for each color is stored redundantly. , because it has to be transferred. For example, when storing and transferring one page's worth of multicolor image information, pixel unit density information for one page of each color is required (density information of pixels in other color parts is " Therefore, in an image processing device using this conventional multicolor image information generation device, the same processing system must be provided for each color, and the storage memory becomes large. The scale of the device becomes large and the cost increases, and as the amount of information to be transferred increases when transferring multicolor image information, the transfer cost also increases.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to generate multicolor image information that eliminates the need for redundant processing for each color, while maintaining a state in which colors and densities are identified, and a state in which color densities are identified at each pixel position. It is to be.

[Means for solving the problem] The technical means for solving the above problem are shown in Figure 1 (a).
As shown in , the density information generation means 2 that generates density information for each predetermined pixel from information regarding the original image 1 and the color information generation means 3 that generates color information for each pixel from information about the original image 1 are the same. Regarding each pixel, each of the above generation means 2.
The color image information output means 4 outputs the density information C generated in step 3 and the color information C as a pair.

As shown in FIG. 1(b), an image processing apparatus using the above-mentioned multicolor image information generating apparatus has, in addition to the above configuration, a pair of density information and color information from the color image information output means 4. Concerning C, there are a density processing system 5 that processes density information on a pixel basis, a color processing system 6 that processes color information C on a pixel basis without processing the density information, and the density processing system 5 described above. The apparatus is equipped with a processed color image information output means 7 for outputting the processed density information Dp from the color processing system 6 and the corresponding processed color information Cp from the color processing system 6 in pairs for each pixel.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1(C), the image processing apparatus forms an image by color reproduction in pixel units based on the density information Dp and color information Cp from the processed color image information output means 7. By providing the configuration including the forming means 8, a specific multicolor image forming function is realized.

The information regarding the original image 1 is information regarding the color and density of the original image, and can be determined using various color systems.

The information regarding the original image 1 may be stored in advance in a memory or the like, or may be obtained by optically reading the original image 1. In a configuration in which information regarding the original image is obtained by optically reading the original image 1, the density information generating means 2 optically scans the original image 1 and generates a plurality of pieces of information regarding the original image 1 in predetermined pixel units. The color information generation means 3 includes an image reading section that outputs color component signals, and a density generation section that generates density information about the pixel based on each color component signal from the image reading section, and the color information generation means 3 is connected to the image reading section. and a color discrimination section that discriminates the color corresponding to each color signal output state from the image reading section based on the relationship between the predetermined output state of each color component signal and the color, and a color discrimination section that discriminates the color corresponding to the output state of each color signal from the image reading section. and a color generation section that generates color information about the pixel based on the result. In this case, the image reading section in the density information generating means 2 is replaced by the color information generating means 3.
The configuration is simplified because it is shared by both. Further, density information generation means 2 and color information generation means 3
It is also possible to configure them in completely different systems. In that case, the mflI generating means 2 can also use a monochrome image reading sensor.

In particular, if the color generation section is configured to have a function of generating predetermined color information for pixels that do not have density, distinguishing them from other color information, pixels that do not have density (back image part) cannot be discriminated. , noise, or when density occurs during various processing processes, etc., it becomes possible to remove it.

The processing related to density information in the density processing system 5 includes all processing related to density reproduction, such as correction processing so that there are no inconveniences in density reproduction, and processing processing to create a new density. Then, when the density processing system 5 generates density in the process of processing in the density processing system 5 for a pixel to which color information in the case of no density is attached, the density processing system 5 erases the density information for the pixel. Equipped with correction means,
In addition, when the density processing system 5 erases the density of a pixel to which color information is attached when it has density, the color processing system 6 changes the color information about the pixel when it does not have density. If a color correction means is provided for correcting the color information of
Inconsistencies in the processing of color information and density information can be prevented.

Since the color processing system 6 includes color information conversion means for converting predetermined color information into other color information, conversion of reproduced colors can be easily realized.

Furthermore, for pixels with cJ degree OII, no problem occurs in color reproduction no matter what the color information is, so the color generation unit generates a color that is the same as any other color information for pixels that do not have Qfi. It is possible to configure the function that generates information in advance. In this case, since the types of color information are reduced overall, simpler processing can be realized.

The configuration of the image forming means 7 includes, for example, a color image forming means that forms a gradation image according to density information for each color corresponding to each color information, and density information of each pixel that is paired based on the color information. and switching means for switching the color image forming means to which color image forming means is to be supplied. This configuration mode realizes a copying machine, a printer, etc., and more specifically, a tandem type copying machine having a means for performing independent image forming process for each color, or an ink donor film for each color. This is realized by a printer, a copying machine, etc. that has a thermal transfer section based on this method.

Furthermore, in an image processing apparatus that forms a multicolor image in one image forming process, each color image forming means forms a latent image on a common image carrier according to the density information of the color. and a developing means that selectively develops a latent image corresponding to each color among the latent images corresponding to each color formed on a common image carrier with a developer of the color. a common image transfer means for collectively transferring the color images made visible by the developer of each color on the image carrier onto the recording sheet, and the switching means selects the paired pixels based on the color information. This is realized by switching the latent image forming means to which unit density information is to be supplied.

[Operation] The density information generation means 2 generates the cJ degree information for each predetermined pixel from the information regarding the original image 1, and the color information generation means 3 generates the color information. Then, the color image information output means 4 outputs the density information and color information C generated by each of the generation means 2.3 as a pair.

The density information L] and the color information C output from the multicolor image information generating device are separately processed in a density processing system 5 for each pixel, and the color information C is processed in a color processing system 6.
The processing is performed corresponding to the processing of density information. The processed density information Dp and processed color information Cp from each of the processing systems 5 and 6 are output as a pair for each pixel from the processed color information output means 7.

The processed density information Dp and processed color information Cp, which are output in pairs on a pixel basis in this way, are provided to the image forming means 8 which is connected thereto, and based on the density information Dp and color information Cp. Images are formed by color reproduction in pixel units.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail in accordance with the order of the table of contents.

Table of contents ■, Basic configuration ■, Original image input section ■ 0 Color image information generation section ■, Processing section (1) Correction/filter (2) Editing/processing 71 Image formation 85 ■, Summary ■, Basic configuration Figure 2 shows the present invention 1 is a basic configuration block diagram showing an example of a multicolor image information generation device and an image processing device according to the present invention.

This example relates to an image processing apparatus that reproduces two colors among a plurality of colors, for example, black (main color) and red (sub color).

In FIG. 2, 10 is a full-color sensor that optically scans the original image; , front two (81) red: R) and outputs them in parallel.This full color sensor 10 and the sensor interface circuit 2) constitute an original image input section.

Reference numeral 50 denotes a color image information generation circuit that generates density information and color information for each pixel from each color component data (GBR) from the sensor interface circuit 2). As information and color information, a sub color flag SCF corresponding to the sub color "red" and a main color 7-lag MCF corresponding to the main color "black" are generated.

Reference numeral 70 denotes a correction/filter circuit that performs various corrections and filter processes on the density information and color information (SCF, MCF) from the color image information generation circuit 50; Color information (SCF, M
The correction/filter circuit 70 and the editing/processing circuit 100 constitute a processing section.

As described above, the correction/filter circuit 70 and the editing/filter circuit 70
Density information and color information (SCF, MCF) that have undergone various processing in the processing circuit 100 are provided to a specific image forming device via an interface circuit 140. The image forming equipment includes a laser printer 150 that performs two-color reproduction, an image transmitter/receiver 170, etc. Further, density information and color information are provided to a computer 180, and an auxiliary storage device (magnetic disk device) of the computer 180 is provided. A system embodiment is also possible in which the information is stored in a computer (e.g.) and used in various terminal devices. When the laser printer 150 is connected, the entire system is configured as a two-color copying machine, and when the image transmitter/receiver 170 is connected, the entire system is configured as a facsimile machine.

(2) The full color sensor 10 of the original image input section is configured to, for example, have a predetermined dot density (16 dots/mtn) as shown in FIG.
The CCD sensor chips 10(1) to 10(5) are arranged in a so-called zigzag pattern while alternately moving back and forth with respect to the document scanning direction S, forming an integrated structure. Each CCD
As shown in FIG. 4, the sensor chips 10(1) to 10(5) each have a green G1 blue B1 red R filter (gelatin filters, etc.) are provided in order. Then, adjacent green filter cell 11 (+ and blue filter cell 11b
and red filter cell 11r form a set, and an output signal of a level corresponding to the amount of light received from each cell (corresponding to the reflectance of the original) is processed as a signal for one pixel P.

Sensor interface circuit 2) (basically, each CCD sensor chip 10(1) to 10(5) arranged in a staggered manner
A color component signal (G.

8. Correction function for aligning R) to one line, converting each color component signal (G, (3, R) serially processed as a signal from each cell of the CCD sensor chip into a parallel signal for each pixel P) It has a function to correct the deviation of the detection position of each color component signal (G, B, R) in one pixel P, etc.

The circuit shown in FIG. 5 is a circuit that realizes the function of aligning the outputs from the staggered CCD sensor chips into one line.

In the same figure, each CCD sensor chip 10(1) to 10
(5), the signals are serially output cell by cell and sent to the A/DI via amplifier circuits 21 (1) to 21 (5).
111i! Circuits 22 (1) to 22 (5) have GC input ahT. Each A/D conversion circuit 22 (1) to 22
In (5), the sensor output signal for each cell corresponding to the amount of received light is output as, for example, 8-bit data.

After each of these A/D conversion circuits 22 (1) to 22 (5), there are latch circuits 23 (1) to 23 for timing adjustment.
23 (5) is provided, especially in the document scanning direction S (third
COD sensor chips 10(2) and 10(2) placed in front of other CCD sensor chips with respect to
For the system 4), the latch circuits 23 (2), 23
(4) First-in, first-out FIFO memory 24 in the subsequent stage
．． 25 are provided. This [I'0 memory 24.2
5 is COD sensor chip 10 (21 and 10 (4)
The output timing of the color component signal for the system is delayed and the other COD sensor chips 10(1), 10(3)
), 10(5) systems to match the output timing of the same line signal. Therefore, while the aging timing is determined to be a predetermined timing, the readout timing (delay amount) is determined by the distance between the scanning lines of the CCDt17 sensor chips 10(2) and 10(4) and the scanning lines of the other COD sensor depths. For example, 6
2.5 μTrL) and the document scanning speed of the full color sensor 10. For example, if the scanning speed differs depending on the magnification of the image to be formed, the readout timing is controlled according to the magnification.

In this way, when the read timing is made variable depending on the magnification, etc., the capacity of the FIFO memory 24, 25 is determined assuming the case where the read timing is the slowest.
each interval corresponds to the allowable delay ht). Each of these FIFs
Latch circuits 26 (2), 2 after the O memory 24.25
6 (4), while the COD sensor chip 10 (
For systems 1), 10(3), and 10(5), the latch circuits 23(1), 23(3), 23
(5) At the subsequent stage, latch circuits 26 (1) and 2 of the direct method are provided.
6(3), 26(5) are connected, FIFO24, 25
preceding COD sensor chip 10(2),
The color component signals of the 10(4) system and the color component signals of the other sensor chip systems are transferred to each latch 26(1) to 26(6).
) are aligned as t) of the same scanning line, and transferred to the subsequent stage at a predetermined timing. Each latch 26 (1
) ~ 26 Looking at (5), the color component signal changes from G→B−+R−+G→B according to the cell arrangement of each COD sensor chip.
This is where the data is transferred serially in the order of →R→...

The circuit shown in FIG. 6 is a circuit that realizes the function of converting each color component signal serially transferred in each COD sensor chip system into a parallel signal for each pixel as described above.

In the figure, each of the CCD senna chips 10(1) to
Serial-to-parallel conversion circuit 30 corresponding to 10(5)
(1) to 30 (5) are provided. Each of these serial-parallel conversion circuits 30 (iHi=1..., 5)
is the color component signal (
Latch circuits 31g, 3 to which G, B, R) are input in parallel
1b and 31r, and in each of these latch circuits, 31g synchronizes with a clock signal (G clock) that becomes active when transferring color component signal G (green), and 31b synchronizes with a clock signal (G clock) that becomes active when transferring color component signal G (green).
31r latches each color component signal in synchronization with the clock signal (B clock) that becomes active when transferring the color component signal R (red), and in synchronization with the clock signal (R clock) that becomes active when the color component signal R (red) is transferred. It looks like this.

Further, each of the latch circuits 31g and 31b.

After 31r, there is a tri-state latch circuit 3 that latches each pixel again in order to adjust the transfer timing.
2Q, 32b, 32r are provided, and each tristate latch 32cs, 32b.

32r is designed such that the previous stage latch data (color component signal) is simultaneously re-latched at the falling timing of the R clock. Furthermore, the tri-state latch circuits 32g, 32b, and 32r receive an enable signal (+) (
i=1. . . . , 5) controls whether the output is driven or not.

The above serial-parallel conversion circuit 30 (1) to 30 (5)
) is followed by a printing circuit 34 and a timing control circuit 36 for controlling writing and reading of the printing circuit 34.
is provided. The memory circuit 34 stores each color component (G, B
, R), and when writing to the memory for each color component, the enable signal (1) is used.
→ (2) → (3) → (4) → (5) By switching the acquisition state in the order of
), one line of data is sequentially arranged in the memory. By reading out the data of each color component sequentially from each dedicated memory in parallel, the color component data of each pixel is sequentially transferred to the subsequent stage from one end of the 1'' line to the other.

It should be noted that the resolution is converted using the digital divider circuit 34 due to the difference between the write timing and the read timing in the timing control circuit 36. For example, the memory circuit 34
The timing control circuit 36 controls the read timing so that the resolution in the subsequent system becomes 4008 PI.

The circuit diagram shown in Figure 7 shows each color component (G, B) in one pixel.
, R) is a circuit that realizes a correction function regarding the deviation of the detected position.

As shown in FIG. 4, due to the structure of the full color sensor 10,
Each color component G within a pixel, 13. Since the reading position of R is spatially shifted, if the signal from each cell is processed as a color component signal, pixels of other colors will appear at the boundary of the black image, resulting in problems such as so-called ghost generation. occurs. Therefore, in order to prevent the occurrence of such ghosts, this correction circuit is designed to make the reading positions of each color component appear more coincident. Specifically, in the arrangement of each cell shown in FIG. 8, there is a method C that corrects the reading position of each color component so that it virtually becomes the position of hill Qn when paying attention to pixel Pn. The correction method is to perform a weighted average of the reading position of each color component in consideration of the adjacent pixel P n-1 so that it becomes the position of the cell Gn. That is, Gn = Gn... (1) Bn
= (an-1+2Bn)/3...(2)Rn
= (2Rn-t +Rn) /3・Each color component data (Gn, Bn, Rn) by the calculation of (3)
I'm trying to get it.

A circuit for realizing the above-mentioned calculations (for example, there is a circuit shown in FIG. 7).

Color component data output pixel by pixel by a circuit not shown in FIG. 6 is input in parallel to the correction circuit. As for the G component system, the latch circuit 38Q
A latch circuit 38b is provided for the daily component system.
A shifter 42 for shifting the data latched by the next latch circuit 41 and the latch circuit 38b by 1 bit is provided at the subsequent stage, and an adder 43 for adding the latched data of the latch circuit 41 and the shift data in the thick 42, and this addition. 1/3 of the addition result in the unit 43 is input as an address.
A lookup table (ROM) 44 is provided to output the . Regarding the R component system, a next latch circuit 45 and a shifter 46 for shifting the data latched in the latch circuit 45 by 1 bit are provided after the latch circuit 38r, and the latch data of the latch circuit 38r and the shifter 46 are provided. An adder 46 that adds shift data and a look-up table (ROM
) 48 are provided.

With this configuration, the above equation (1) is realized in the G component system, and since shifting by 1 bit means twice the calculation, the above equation (2) is realized in the daily component system. The above system realizes equation (3).

The above is the basic configuration of the original image input section consisting of the full color sensor 10 and the sensor interface circuit 2). Each color component data (G, B, R) is sequentially output.

Each color component signal that has been processed by the original image input unit as described above is transferred to the color image information generation unit, which will be described next, after being subjected to commonly performed processing such as shading correction.

(2) In the color image generation section of the nine-color image generation section, density information generation means, color information generation means, and color image information output means, which are constituent elements of the present invention, are embodied.

FIG. 9 shows a specific structure of the color image information generation circuit 50 in FIG. 2. In FIG.

In the figure, a subtraction circuit 51 inputs G component data and R component data among the color component data transferred pixel by pixel from the sensor interface circuit 2) and calculates the difference (R-G); A subtraction circuit 52 is provided that inputs the component data and R component data and calculates the difference (R-8).The reduction results in each frame reduction circuit 51 and 52 are expressed in parallel look-up tables. The lookup table 53 outputs the product of saturation C1 hue H of the pixel (T1×C) and color discrimination based on the above-mentioned subtraction results. Reading is performed in units of 8 bits, for example, the upper 5 bits are (1-1x
As a result of C), the lower three bits are allocated to the color judgment output.

The contents of the lookup table 53 are defined as follows, for example.

As shown in Figure 10, the vertical axis represents the difference (R-G) between the color component of red (R>) and the color component of the upper line (G), and the color component of red (R) and the color component of vl (B). When a color space is set with the horizontal axis being the difference (R-8), any color can be specified using the distance 1Jlr from the origin 0 and the rotation angle θ.

The distance r is a factor that mainly determines the saturation C, and the closer the color gets to the origin O in the color space, the closer it becomes to an achromatic color. Also,
The rotation angle θ is a factor that mainly determines the hue F1. For example, "red", magenta, blue, cyan, "green" and "yellow" are respectively distributed in the positions surrounded by the broken lines in FIG. 10 in the color space.

From the above relationship, (R-G) data and (R-8)
The distance 11ir from the origin is found from the data according to r = ((R-G) + (R-8)2), and θ = jan'' ((R -G)/(R-8)), and the color determination is made at the position in the color space specified by the rotation angle θ.

In addition, the saturation C is determined by the distance falt r from the origin and the saturation C determined by the above formula from the (R-G) data and (R-B) data.
For example, it is determined according to the experimentally determined relationship shown in FIG. In addition, in Fig. 11,
When the distance r becomes smaller than the predetermined value rO, the color becomes achromatic and the color aC becomes O''.

Further, the hue H is determined by the relationship between the rotation angle θ and the hue H determined by the above formula from the (R-G) data and (R-8) data, for example, the relationship determined experimentally as shown in FIG. It is required according to the following. In addition, in FIG. 12, when the rotation angle θ is smaller than the predetermined value θ0, the hue H is forcibly set to “0”.

In this way, the color discrimination results, saturation C and hue H are both (R
-G) data and (R-B) data, the look-up table 53 whose address inputs are (R-G) and (R-8) from each of the floss reduction circuits 51 and 52 is as described above. It is designed to realize processing such as calculation and judgment, and output the color discrimination and the product of saturation C and hue H (CXH). And as mentioned above (CXH
) is expressed in 5 bits, and the color discrimination result is expressed in 3 bits as shown in Table 1 above, for example.

In addition, the above-mentioned FIG. 11, which determines the above-mentioned saturation C and hue T4,
The relationship shown in FIG. 12 can be viewed in various ways depending on the color separation capabilities required of the system.

Further, in FIG. 9, each color component data inputted in parallel in pixel units is input to a multiplication circuit 54 whose G component data is multiplied by 0.6, and a multiplication circuit 55 whose B component data is multiplied by 0.01. The R component data is input to a multiplication circuit 56 which is multiplied by 0.3. The multiplication results in each multiplier circuit 54, 55, 56 are input to the adder circuit 57, and the sum VV = 0.6G + 0.3R + 0.1B in the adder circuit 57 is sent to the subsequent stage as the brightness data of the pixel. will be forwarded to.

The brightness data V is generated based on the back G component data of the color component data GBR by adding the values of the 8 component data and the R component data to that value. This is an image sensor (
This is because the spectral sensitivity curve of the G component signal in the full color sensor 10) has characteristics close to the human specific luminous sensitivity curve. Each coefficient (the multiplication value in each multiplier circuit) in the formula for determining the brightness V is ultimately determined based on the spectral sensitivity characteristics of the image sensor, the spectral distribution of the exposure lamp, and the like.

Furthermore, as mentioned above, since the spectral sensitivity characteristics of the G component signal are close to the human specific luminosity characteristics, it is possible to use only the G component data as the brightness data V, depending on the capabilities required of the system. It is.

The output (1-I x C) related to saturation and hue from the lookup table 53, the color discrimination data, and the brightness data V from the addition circuit 57 become address inputs to the next lookup table 58, and this lookup table 58 has a function of outputting color density data DC corresponding to address input.

Specifically, for each input above, Dc = KXCXHXV Output the color 8 degree data l)c determined according to the following.

Here, K is a coefficient that varies depending on the color determination data.

This coefficient is used to match the brightness levels of chromatic colors and achromatic colors, since chromatic colors feel brighter than achromatic colors, and is determined experimentally in advance according to each discrimination color. , the value is set to a value within a range of about 1.1 to 1.3, for example.

The color discrimination output (3 bits) from the lookup table 53 and the color selection data set in the latch circuit 60 are input to the matching circuit 59, and when the color discrimination output and the color selection data match, the matching circuit The output of 59 is designed to rise to the torque level. This color selection data is set in the latch circuit 60 based on the operator's operation input or setting input from the dip switch 7-, etc., and is 3-bit data corresponding to the color to be reproduced as a subcolor (see Table 1 above). ). - The output of the number circuit 59 functions as a sub color flag SCF (color information) indicating whether or not it is the sub color (for example, red) set in the color selection, and further, the output of the selection circuit 61 and 62 This is an output selection signal (SEL). The selection circuit 61 has a function of switching between brightness data ■ and "O" data according to the state of the selection signal, and when the selection signal is trubel,
0'' data, and brightness data V when the selection signal is truvel.The selection circuit 62 outputs the color density data DC from the lookup table 58 and the selection circuit according to the state of the selection signal. It has a function of switching between the data from the selection circuit 61 and outputs the color density data Qc when the selection signal is a truvel, and outputs the data from the selection circuit 61 when the selection signal is a truvel.

Further, the output bit of the selection circuit 61 is directly outputted to the OR circuit 6.
Main color 7 indicates whether the output of this OR circuit 63 is the main color (for example, black).
While functioning as lag MCF (color information), the output of the selection circuit 62 is transferred to a subsequent stage as density data.

In the color image information generation circuit as described above, in the main color (black) region of the original image, the output of the minus number circuit 59 becomes the trubel, and the brightness data V from the addition circuit 57 is directly transmitted to the selection circuits 61 and 62. The data is then transferred as density data D to a subsequent stage. At this time, since the brightness data V is not "0", the main color flag MCF becomes a trubel,
Since the output of the -number circuit 59 is a trubel, the sub color flag SCF becomes a trubel (see main color area E1m in FIG. 13). In addition, in the sub-color area (for example, red) of the original image, the output of the minus number circuit 59 becomes a torque signal, and the chromaticity data from the look-up table 58 is transferred to the subsequent stage as density data D via the selection circuit 62. be done.

At this time, since the output of the selection circuit 61 is "0'"C, the main color flag MCF h<L level, and since the output of the minus number circuit 59 is H level, +T
The color flag SCF becomes H level (see sub color area ES in FIG. 13). Furthermore, the background area of the original picture (
At density 11011), the output of the selection circuit 61 is '0' and the output of the matching circuit 59 is also at L level, so the density data D becomes "OIT" and both the main color flag MCF and sub color flag SCF It becomes L level (see the previous day's area En in Fig. 13).The above-mentioned agitation circuits are driven in synchronization with the l1Iii'M level under the control of the timing control circuit (path shown), and the concentration data D and color flags (MSF, SMF)
are sequentially transferred to the processing section described below as data forming a pair of the same pixel.

Note that in the above example, the color information is the main color flag MCF.
'C is configured in the sub color flag SCF, which corresponds to expressing color information with 2-bit data. That is, the relationship shown in Table 2 is obtained.

Table 2 In this case, color information (
D, 0) will be generated to be distinguished from other color information.

IV. Processing Section This processing section embodies the density processing system, color processing system, and processed color image information output means, which are the constituent elements of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

A pair of density data D and a color flag (M
CF, 5CF) are processed in separate systems. Specifically, the following processing is performed.

(1) M correction/filter Various correction processes and filter processes are performed when forming an image based on color image information such as the one described in F.

For example, what about ghost correction as correction processing, and what about filter processing? MTF correction that emphasizes the 3rd range, 1 to prevent the 7th area! ! ! Correction of the area cut and the like are performed in the correction/filter circuit 70 shown in FIG.

For example, due to chromatic aberration of the reading optical system, bias in the color sensitivity of the full-color sensor 10, etc., ghost correction is performed as shown in FIG. 14.
A dot GS that is determined to be a sub color (red) on the boundary with
This is a correction process performed to prevent (pixels) from appearing erroneously.

Specifically, this ghost correction is performed as follows.

Pay attention to 5 consecutive bits (5 threads) in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, and when the color arrangement of these 5 bits matches a predetermined ghost pattern, the center of the 5 bits, that is, the 3rd bit. is determined to be a ghost bit and the density data and color flag are corrected. The above ghost pattern C1 For example, as shown in Figure 15 in the main scanning direction and Figure 16 in the sub-scanning direction, one bit is placed between the main color (black) bit and the background color (white) bit. Six patterns each having one to two-bit sub colors are predetermined. Then, to correct the ghost bit (color bit), change the density data and color flag to the main color (black) or background color (white).
Correct it to that of .

FIG. 17 shows the correction/filter circuit 70, particularly the circuit for ghost correction f31.

In the figure, density data D and main color 7 lag MC output from the color image information generation circuit 50 for each Fi line are shown.
F and sub color flag SCF are sequentially stored in parallel in a shift register constituted by five stages of latch circuits 71 to 75. Each of these latch circuits 71 to 7
The color flag output (MCF, 5CF) of 5 is input to the address end of the lookup table 6. The look-up table 76 corresponds to each latch circuit 7 serving as an address input.
It has a function of outputting a ghost bit determination output (H level output) when the states of color flags 1 to 75 match the ghost pattern shown in FIG. That is, each latch circuit 71 to 75 and lookup table 7
6 constitutes a ghost bit determination circuit for one main scanning direction.

The third bit to be judged as a ghost, that is, the color flag stored in the third stage latch circuit 73 and the ghost judgment data (1 bit) for the relevant pixel from the lookup table 76 is further input to the latch circuit 77. ing. After this latch circuit 77, one line of FIFO memory 78 and 80 are serially connected, and the final bit of the FIFO memory 78 is connected to the latch circuit 79, and the FIFO memory 80 is connected in series. The final bits are connected to latch circuits 81, respectively. Further, at the stage subsequent to the FIFO memory 80, there is an additional FIFO memory 82 for one line, which is intended only for color flags. 84 are connected in series, and the final bit of the FIF'0 memory 82 is connected to the latch circuit 83, and the final bit of the FIFO memory 84 is connected to the latch circuit 85, respectively. Further, the color flags stored in each of the latch circuits 77, 79, 81, 83, and 85 are input to the address end of the lookup table 86. This lookup table 86 has address input for each latch circuit 77, 79, 81, 8.
This function performs a ghost bit determination output (H level) when the state of the color flag from 3°85 matches the ghost pattern shown in FIG. That is, each latch circuit 77.79.81°83.85 and 4 stages of FI
The FO menus 78, 80, 82° 84 and the look-up table 86 constitute a ghost bit determination circuit in the sub-scanning direction.

In the main-scanning direction and sub-scanning direction ghost bit determination circuits configured as described above, the main-scanning direction ghost bit determination circuit targets the color flag stored in the third stage latch circuit 73 on the main-scanning direction side. A determination is made, and then, when the color flag and the determination result are sequentially shifted and stored in the third stage latch circuit 81 on the sub-scanning direction side, a ghost bit determination in the sub-scanning direction is similarly made. That is, the results of ghost bit determination in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction centering on the target bit are stored in the latch circuit 87.

On the other hand, the above-mentioned ghost bit judgment circuits etc. are processing systems that target color flags (MCF, 5CF), but when looking at the processing system that targets density data D, similar to color flags, density data D One line of FIFO memory 91 is provided after each latch circuit 71 to 75 that performs a shift operation. A latch circuit 92 is connected to the latch circuit 92, and a latch circuit 93 is further connected to the subsequent stage. The processing system for the vague data D having such a structure is such that the ghost bit determination is Ff "0 78° 8" in the color flag processing system described above.
0 and stored in the latch circuit 81, this is a timing adjustment circuit for associating the density data D with the determination Wi element.

Furthermore, a processing circuit related to correction based on the ghost bit determination described above is configured as follows.

Regarding the a degree data D, a multiplexer 94 is provided that selectively outputs the density data D or "0" data (white) stored in the latch circuit 93. This multiplexer 94 is controlled by an L level control input. The output of density data D is selected, and the output of "0" data is selected by the H level fl/Ill input.On the other hand, regarding color information, the color flag (MC
A latch circuit 90 for re-storing the color flag is connected to a subsequent stage of the latch circuit 81 in which the color flag SCF) is stored, and a multiplexer 95 to which the sub-color flag SCF stored in the latch circuit 90 is input. Multiplexer 96 to which the main color flag MCF is input
is provided. The multiplexer 95 selects the sub color flag output when its control input is at L level, and selects the trubel output when its control input is at T level.

Further, the multiplexer 96 selects the main color flag output when its control input is trubel, and selects the trubel output when its control input is trubel.

Then, the output of the multiplexer 94 is transferred to the subsequent stage as density data D1, the output of the multiplexer 95 is the corrected sub color no-lag SCF, and the output of the multiplexer 96 is the corrected main color 7-lag MCF.

The control system of the multiplexers 94, 95, 96 is provided with a switch circuit 97.98.99 for switching its control input. For each switch circuit 97, 98, and 99, the ghost bit determination result (1 bit, H or L) in the main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction stored in the latch circuit 87 is sent to each switch via an OR circuit 88. It is input to one end (2) of the circuits 97, 98, and 99, and the other end (2) of each switch circuit is held at the truvel by grounding.

The circuit related to this ghost correction can perform three modes as shown in Table 3 depending on the state of each switch circuit described above. Here, in mode 1, the ghost judgment pixel is set to "no density".
Mode 2 corrects to 0” (white), Mode 2 corrects ghost detection pixels to main color (black), Mode 3
is a non-modifying mode.

Table 3 To explain each mode specifically, in the case of mode 1, when it is determined that the determination bit stored in the latch circuit 81 is a ghost bit in the main scanning direction or the sub-scanning direction, the determination result is OR circuit based on 88
The output is the trubel. As a result, the density output via the multiplexer 94 becomes "0", while the output from the multiplexer 95 becomes trubel. Furthermore, what is determined to be a ghost bit is a sub-color (red), as is clear from the ghost patterns shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.
Since the pixels are separated as
The output is the same as the original main color flag MCF, which is the trubel. Therefore, in this mode 1, the density of the ghost determination pixel is corrected to zero, and both color flags (MCF, 5CF) are corrected to trubel. In mode 2, for a similar ghost bit, the output of multiplexer 95 becomes trubel, and the output of multiplexer 96 is forcibly held at trubel. The multiplexer 94 then outputs the original density data as is. Therefore, in this mode 2, the density of the ghost determination pixel is maintained as it is, and the sub color flag is forcibly corrected to Trubel, and the main color flag MCF is forcibly corrected to Trubel. In the case of mode 3, density data D and color flag (MC
F, 5CF) are connected to each multiplexer 94 as they are.
．． 95.96, and no modifications are made to it.

The correction/filter circuit 70 includes various filter circuits in addition to the circuit related to ghost correction as described above. This filter circuit is a general digital filter and includes a filter (MTF correction) that emphasizes the high frequency range as described above, a high frequency cut filter for preventing moiré, and the like.

These various filters are provided only in the system that processes the density data D, and for the color flag, only a circuit that is 1111i-16 in timing with the processing of the density data D is provided.

(2) Editing/Processing As described above, various types of processing or editing processing are performed on the density data D and color plugs that form a pair for each pixel after undergoing various correction processing and filter processing. This processing fl
The I collection processing is performed by the editing/processing circuit 100 in FIG. 2, and specifically includes enlarging, reducing, shading,
In addition to processing for the entire image such as negative/positive inversion, processing such as partial correction of color flags or partial correction of density data D is performed.

Among various editing/processing processes, for example, color conversion processing will be explained. This color conversion process is basically a process of changing a main color (black) pixel to a sub color (red), or a sub color (red) pixel to a main color (black) pixel. This process is performed according to user specifications.

FIG. 18 shows a circuit that executes color conversion processing.

In the figure, 141 is a register in which a function selection signal is set, and in this register 141 is set a function selection signal output from the controller (the path shown) based on the user's designation (manual keystroke, etc.). It looks like this. This function selection signal is, for example, a sub color on bit (SCON), a main color on bit (HCO
N), all sub color bits (all SC), all main color bits (all HC), color inversion bit, pass bit (
The state of the 6 bits is set (H level or L level) depending on the function to be realized. The function selection signal set in the register 141 is stored in the latch circuit 142 at a predetermined timing during processing. on the other hand,
As mentioned above, the main color flag MCF and sub color flag SCF that have been processed by the correction/filter circuit 70 are stored in the latch circuit 143 of the human J stage, and each color flag passes through three logic circuits to the output stage. Latch circuit 1
53. This latch circuit 143
The three logic circuits from to the latch circuit 153 are as follows:
Main color flag MCF is AND gate 144 and 1
47, the sub color flag SCF is set to AND gate 1.
45 and 146 to the latch circuit 153 corresponding to the main color and sub color, respectively, and the main color 7-lag MCF are connected to the AND gates 144 and 14.
8, the sub color flag SCF is set to AND gate 14
5 and 149, the relationship between the main color and the sub color is inverted and reaches the latch circuit 153, and the main color flag M via AND gates 144 and 145.
The CF and sub color flag SCF are input to AND gates 150 and 151 via an OR gate 152, and the system is configured from the AND gates 150 and 151 to a latch circuit 153. The gates of each system are controlled by each bit of the function selection signal stored in the latch circuit 142. Specifically, the AND gate 145 in the first system is the sub color on bit (SCON), and the AND gate 1
44 is the main color on bit (HCON), and AND gates 146 and 147 are the bus bits (PASS
), AND gates 148 and 149 in the second system are controlled by color inversion bits, AND gate 150 in the third system is controlled by all main color bits (all HC), and AND gate 151 is controlled by all main color bits (all HC). It is configured to be gate-controlled by each sub-color bit (all SCs).

Regarding the processing system for density data D, an input stage latch circuit 154 and an output stage latch circuit 155 correspond to the input stage latch circuit 143 and the output stage latch circuit 153 in the color flag processing system, respectively. are provided, and these latch circuits 154 and 155 pair v
Adjustments are made so that the relationship between the Aa data D and the color flags does not collapse.

In the processing circuit as described above, the corresponding functions are realized depending on the states of the function selection signals from ■ to ■ shown in Table 4.

Each state from ■ to ■ of the above function selection signal will be explained.

■No operation This sub color on bit (SB ON), main color on bit (HCON), pass bit (PA
SS) is at H level, the AND gate 144
°145.146.147 is the permissible state. Therefore,
Main color flag M set in latch circuit 143
CF and sub color flag SCF are directly connected to the output stage latch circuit 1 via each AND gate that is in the permissible state.
53 and transferred to the subsequent stage together with the corresponding a degree data D stored in the latch circuit 155. ■ Like this
In this state, as shown in FIG. 19(a), in each pixel in the subcolor (red) ilD degree area ES, the subcolor flag SCF maintains the H level, and
In each pixel in the "a" area El11 of the main color (black), the main color flag remains at the H level.

■All sub colors When this sub color on bit (SCON), main color on bit (HCON), and all sub color bits (all SC) are at H level, the AND gate 1
44 and 145 go into the allowed state, and the AND gate 151 goes into the allowed state. Therefore, and gate 14
4, 145, and the A/A signal of the sub color flag SCF and main color flag MCF which are further passed through the OR gate 152 are stored into the sub color bit (SCF) side of the latch circuit 153 via the AND gate 151. In such a state (■), as shown in FIG. 19(b), the sub color flag SCF remains at the H level in each pixel in the sub color density area 1fflEs, while each pixel in the main color density area El11 remains at the H level. At the pixel, the main color flag MCF is at L level and the sub color flag SC
F is changed to H level. As a result, the entire image becomes sub-color color image information.

■All main colors This sub color on bit (SB ON), main color on bit (HCON), all main color bits (all HC) are in the state of 1 (level), AND gates 144 and 145 are in the allowable state and , the AND gate 150 enters the allowable state.Therefore, the OR signal of the sub color flag SCF and the main color flag MCF, which has passed through the AND gates 144 and 145 and further through the OR game 1-152, is sent to the latch circuit 15 via the AND gate 150.
It is stored on the main color bit (MCF) side of No. 3. In such a state (■), as shown in FIG. 19(C), in each pixel in the density area ES of the sub color, the sub color 7 lag SCF is changed to the L level and the main color flag MCF is changed to the H level. , main color density area El
In each pixel in 1, the main color flag MCF maintains the H level. As a result, the entire image becomes color image information of the main color.

(2) Sub-color deletion When the main color on bit (HCON) and pass bit (PASS) are at H level, AND gate 144 and AND gates 146 and 147 are in a permissive state. Therefore, the main color flag MCF stored in the latch circuit 143 of the input stage is
7 and is stored as is in the latch circuit 153 of the output stage. Also, sub color 7 lag SCF is AND gate 1
By 45! ! ! The sub color bit (SCF) of the latch circuit 153 is always held at L level. In such a state (■), as shown in FIG. 19(d), the sub color flag SCF is changed from the H level to the L level in each pixel in the sub color density area ES, while the sub color flag SCF is changed from the H level to the L level in the main color density area ES. In each pixel in El, the main color flag MCF maintains the H level.

This means that the subcolor has been deleted.

■Main color deletion When the sub color on bit (SCON) and the pass bit (PASS) are at H level, the AND gate 145 and the AND gates 146 and 147 are in the permissible state. Therefore, since the main color 7-lag MCF stored in the input stage latch circuit 143 is cut off by the AND gate 144, the main color bit of the latch circuit 153 is always held at the torque level. Further, the sub color flag SCF is stored as it is in the output stage latch circuit 153 via AND gates 145 and 146. This kind of ■ state W! A〒 is, as shown in FIG. 19(e),
In each pixel in the sub-color density region ES, the sub-color flag SCF is maintained at Trubel, while the main color WJr! In each pixel in one area E-, the main color flag MCF is changed from Trubel to Trubel. This means that the main color has been deleted.

■Color inversion When the sub color on bit (SCON), main color on bit (HCON), and color inversion bit are trubel, the AND gate is 144°145.148.1
49 is the permissible state. Therefore, the input stage latch circuit 1
The main color flag MCF stored in the latch circuit 143 is stored in the opposite sub color bit (SCF) side of the latch circuit 153 via AND gates 144 and 148, while the sub color flag SCF stored in the latch circuit 143 is The opposite main color bit (MC
F) is stored on the side. In this situation, the 19th
As shown in Figure (f), in each pixel in one density region Es of the sub color, the sub color flag SCF is changed from Trubel to Trubel, and the main color flag MC
F is changed from Trubel to Trubel, and in each pixel in the main color density region El, the sub color 7 lag SCF is changed from Trubel to Trubel, and the main color flag MCF is changed from F4 level to Trubel. As a result, the main color and the sub color are inverted.

■In a state where all bits in the masking function selection signal are trubels, each of the 7nd gates is disabled, so the main color flag MCF and sub color flag SCF stored in the input stage latch circuit 143 are The main color bit (MCF) and the sub color bit (SCF) in the latch circuit 153 of the output stage both maintain the torque level at all times. In such a state (2), both the main color flag and the sub color flag are forcibly changed to and maintained at trubel in each pixel in the sub color density area ES and the main color density area E-. As a result, the color information of both the main color and the sub color will be deleted.

(2) Sub color deletion Color reversal When the main color on bit (HCON) and the color reversal pit are in the trubel state, the seventh AND gate 144 is in the permissible state and the AND gates 148 and 149 are in the permissible state. Therefore, the main color flag MCF stored in the latch circuit 143 of the input stage is
4.148 and is stored in the opposite sub-color bit (SCF) side of the latch circuit 153. On the other hand, the sub color flag SCF stored in the latch circuit 143 is blocked by the AND gate 145, and the state reaches the main color bit (MCF) on the opposite side of the latch circuit 153 via the AND gate 149, and the latch circuit 153 main color bits are always held in the trubel. In such a state of ■, as shown in FIG. 19 ((IJ), the sub color flag SCF is changed from Trubel to Trubel at the pixel in the density area ES of the sub color, and the main color flag MCF is changed from Trubel to Trubel. In addition, the main color density area E
At each pixel in 1, the main color flag MCF$H level is changed to the truvel level, and the sub color flag SCF maintains the truvel level. As a result, the sub color and the main color are inverted, and the color information of the sub color after inversion is deleted.

(2) Main color deletion and inversion When the sub color on bit (C8ON) and the color inversion pit are in the trubel state, the AND gate 145 is in the permissible state and the AND gates 148 and 149 are in the permissible state. Therefore, the main color 7-lag MCF stored in the input stage latch circuit 143 is AND gate 1
44, the state is transmitted to the sub color bit (SCF) on the opposite side of the latch circuit 153 via the AND gate 148, and the sub color bit of the latch circuit 153 is always held at L level. On the other hand, the sub color flag SCF stored in the latch circuit 143 is stored in the opposite main color pit (MCF) side of the latch circuit 153 via AND gates 145 and 149. In such a state (■), as shown in FIG. 19(h), the sub color flag SCF is changed from the H level to the L level at each pixel in the sub color density area ES, and the main color flag MCF is changed to the L level. maintain the level. Further, in each pixel in the main color density region El, the main color flag MCF is changed from the H level to the L level, and the sub color flag SCF is changed from the L level to the H level. As a result, the sub color and the main color are inverted, and the color information of the main color after inversion is deleted.

Note that when the color flag is set in the latch circuit 143 of the input stage, the paired density data D is set in the latch circuit 154 of the power stage, and the color flag is passed through each logic circuit to the latch circuit 153 of the output stage. At the point when the density data D is set to
is set to Then, the density data D set in the latch circuit 155 and the color flag set in the latch circuit 153 are transferred to the subsequent stage in pairs for each pixel.

Next, partial correction processing of the color flag or density data D will be explained.

This is because as a result of the filtering process on the density data D described above, the consistency between the density data and the color flags is lost.
Specifically, density occurs for pixels whose color flags are both L level, the density of pixels whose color flags are H level is erased, or the density is changed in the color conversion process described above. Since the color flags for the pixels on the right are erased (Fig. 19(d),(e)),
Q) (See (h)), for example, the following correction circuit is provided in the density data processing system and the color flag processing system.

First, the color flag processing system is equipped with a correction circuit (2) as shown in the figure. When the density of a pixel is erased, the density and color flag of the pixel are matched.

In the figure, reference numeral 101 denotes a matching circuit that judges whether the density data D matches the "0" input, and outputs an L level judgment when the input density data D matches "0'°." The judgment output of the circuit 101 is 1il of the AND gate 103 to which the sub color flag SCF is input and the AND gate 104 to which the main color flag MCF is input.
It is an I11 input. Then, the density data D is stored as it is in the latch circuit 102, and each color flag (MC
F, 5CF) is stored in the latch circuit 105, and the density data D and color flag (MCF.F, 5CF) are stored in the latch circuit 105.

5CF) are transferred in pairs from each latch circuit to the subsequent stage.

In such a correction circuit, for example, as shown in FIG. 21, when the density distribution N1 shown by the broken line is corrected by filter processing to the sandwiched density distribution Na shown by the solid line, an area t4Ea where a5 degree is deleted, , Eb, the determination output of the matching circuit 10 goes to L level and inhibits AND gates 103 and 104, so both color flags are forcibly held at L level. Therefore,
For pixels whose density has been erased by the filter processing, the color flag is corrected to the L level by the correction circuit, and the density data and color flag are transferred to a subsequent stage in a state of matching. Note that since the pixels in the new 8:1 degree distribution Na are pixels that originally have density, the judgment output of the matching circuit 101 becomes the trubel, and the AND gate 103, in which the color flag remains in the allowable state,
104 and is transferred to the subsequent stage together with the density data.

Next, the processing system for the density data D is provided with a correction circuit as shown in FIG. This occurs when a new density is generated for a pixel that does not have density due to filter processing, especially processing with a filter that cuts high frequencies (moiré prevention), or when a color flag is created for a pixel that has density due to color conversion processing. When erased (Figure 19(d)
(e) (see i (h)) etc., the density and color flag for the pixel are matched.

In the figure, 110 is a selection circuit that selects density data D or 0'' data, and this selection circuit 110 is selectively switched by each signal of the main color flag MCF or sub color flag SCF via an OR gate 111. It looks like this.Specifically, or gate 111
The selection circuit 110 selects the density data D output when the selection signal (5EL) via the selection signal (5EL) is a torque level, and selects the "0" data output when the selection signal is a torque level.

In such a correction circuit, for example, as shown in FIG. 23, when the 8-power distribution Ni shown by the broken line is corrected to the expanded concentration distribution Na shown by the solid line through filter processing, the 1l
Since each pixel in the region [:a, Eb where 151ff is generated] has no density and the color flag is a trubel, the selection signal via the OR gate 111 becomes a trubel, and the output of the selection circuit 110 is the O11 data. becomes. Therefore, the newly generated density for the pixel is erased, and the pixel is paired with the original L level color flag and transferred to the subsequent stage. Note that since the pixels in the original density distribution Ni originally have a density, either the sub color flag SCF or the main color flag MCF becomes a torque J3, and the selection circuit 110 density data D. is output as is and transferred to the subsequent stage together with the color flag.

Further, as shown in FIG. 19(d), when the sub-color flag SCF of each pixel in the sub-color density region E3 is changed to Trubel, the output of the selection circuit 110 is similarly set to 0.
” data, and the density of the pixel is erased. In other words,
Subcolors are erased.

Furthermore, among various editing and character processing processes, for example, negative/positive reversal processing will be explained.

This negative/positive inversion process consists of a first color negative/positive inversion that inverts the main color (black) and the background color (white), and a second color negative/positive inversion that inverts the sub color (red) and background color (white). There is. This negative/positive reversal process is performed according to the user's specifications, and the specific circuit is, for example, the second
It looks like Figure 4.

In the same figure, 12) (is a 2-series multiplexer, and inputs 10 to 100 depending on the states of SA and -48 control inputs.
One of the inputs ID3 is outputted to 1Y, and one of the inputs 2DO to 2D3 is outputted to 2Y. Looking at the input system of this multiplexer 12), a 2-bit negative/positive designation signal (8
5 negative positive, SC negative positive) are input to control input terminals SA and 3B. Also, the main color flag MCF is the first
input to ID1.1D3 in the input system of
2 in the input system of ing.

Regarding the output system of this multiplexer 12),
The output from the output terminal 1Y directly becomes the new main color flag MCF, and the output from the second output terminal 2Y becomes the new sub-color flag SCF via the AND gate 130.

On the other hand, regarding the density data processing system, for example, there is an inversion circuit 126 that inverts each bit of 'eA degree data D expressed in 8 bits, and a non-inversion circuit 126 that inverts each bit of 'eA degree data D in 8-bit representation, and a non-inversion circuit 126 that transfers input m degree data D as is to the subsequent stage. A circuit 128 is provided, and these inverting circuit 126 and non-inverting circuit 128 are configured such that their functions are enabled when their control inputs (OC) are at L level. One negative/positive designation signal (HC negative/positive) and the sub color flag S via the inverter 122
The outputs of the Nante gate 123 to which the CF is input and the Nant gate 124 to which the main color flag MCF is input via the other negative/positive signal (SC negative/positive) and the inverter 121 are input to the AND gate 125, and the output of this AND gate 125 is While serving as a control input for the inverting circuit 126,
The output of the AND gate 125 is further provided as a control input of a non-inverting circuit 128 via an inverter 127.

Also, l from the inverting circuit 126 or the non-inverting circuit 128
An OR circuit 129 is provided to generate an OR signal for each bit of the 1li data D, and the output of this OR circuit 129 is sent to an AND gate 130 for generating the sub-color flag.
This is the control input.

In the processing circuit as described above, the mode of negative/positive inversion as shown in Table 5 is determined depending on the state of the negative/positive designation signal.

Table 5 A detailed explanation of each case shown in Table 5 above is as follows.

2-bit negative/positive designation signal (HC=L, 5C=L)
, the first output 1 of the multiplexer 12)
From Y, main color 7 lag M input to input terminal ID3
The CF is output as is, and the nub color flag SCF input to the input end 2D3 is output as is from the second output end 2Y. In addition, since both the negative and positive designation signals HC and SC are at the L level, the Nant gate 123 and 124 outputs are both at the H level, and the AND gate 125 output is at the H level.
level, and as a result, the non-inverting circuit 128 becomes effective. Therefore, the density data D is output from the non-inverting circuit 128 as is. In this way, when the negative/positive designation signal becomes (HC=0, 5C=O), for example,
As shown in FIG. 25, both density data D and color flags (MCF, 5CF) for pixels in the main color area hliEm and pixels in the sub color area ES are transferred to the subsequent stage as a pair (pass). .

The 2-bit negative/positive designation signal is (HC=ll, 5C-L
), the first output terminal 1Y of the multiplexer 12) (inverts the sub color flag input to the input terminal 1D2), and the second output terminal 2Y outputs the sub color flag input to the input terminal 2D2. The color flag SCF is output as is.Also, the negative/positive designation signal is HC=11
Since 5C=L, the NAND gate 123 enters the permissible state, while the output of the NAND gate 124 is fixed at H level. In this state, in pixels in the sub-color area, the inverted signal of the sub-color flag becomes L level, so
The output of the Nant gate 123 becomes H level, and the output of the AND gate 125 becomes H level, and as a result, the non-inverting circuit 128 becomes effective. Therefore, the density data D is output from the non-inverting circuit 128 as is. on the other hand,
For pixels in areas other than the sub-color area (main color area and background area), the sub-color flag is inverted](
level, so the output of the Nant gate 123 is L.
As a result, the output of the AND gate 125 becomes L level, and as a result, the inverting circuit 126 becomes effective. Therefore, new density data is output from the inversion circuit 126 with each pit of the density data D being inverted. In this way, when the negative/positive designation signal 5j becomes (HC=H, 5C-L), for example, as shown in FIG. 26, the density data D and the nap color flag SCF are is transferred to the subsequent stage as a pair, while other areas (main color area and background area)
Regarding the pixel, the input density data D is inverted to become new density data D, and the inverted signal of the sub color flag becomes a new main color flag MCF and is transferred to the subsequent stage. In other words, the main color (black) and background color (white) are inverted (first color) while the sub color (red) remains the same.
color negative/positive inversion).

2-bit negative/positive designation signal (HC=L, 5C=H)
, the first output 1 of the multiplexer 12)
From Y, main color 7 lugs M input to input end 101
CF is output, and the input terminal 2D1 is output from the second output terminal 2Y.
An inverted signal MCF of the main color flag input to is output. Also, the negative/positive designation signal is HC=L, 5C=H
Therefore, the NAND gate 124 enters the permissive state, while the output of the NAND gate 123 is fixed at H level.

In this state, in the pixels of the main color area El, the inverted signal of the main color flag becomes L level, so the output of the Nant gate 124 becomes H level, and the output of the AND gate 125 becomes H level, and as a result, Non-inverting circuit 128 becomes effective. Therefore, the density data D is output from the non-inverting circuit 128 as is. On the other hand, in pixels in areas other than the main color area El (sub-color area and background area), the inverted signal of the main color flag becomes H level, so the output of the Nant gate 124 becomes L level, and the AND gate 125 The output goes to L level, and as a result, the inverting path 126 becomes effective. Therefore, new density data is output from the inversion circuit 126 with each bit of the density data D being inverted. In this way, the negative/positive designation signal (MC-L, 5C=H)
In this case, contrary to the case shown in FIG. 26, for the pixels in the main color area E1m, the data D and the main color flag MCF are transferred to the first stage as a pair, while For pixels in other areas (sub-color area and background area), the input density data D is inverted and becomes new density data D, and the inverted signal of the main color flag basically becomes the sub-color flag SCF and is sent to the subsequent stage. be transferred. That is, the main color (black) remains as it is, but the sub color (red) and the background color (white) are inverted (second color negative/positive inversion).

However, in the case of the second color negative/positive inversion, for pixels whose density becomes 0″ (white) as a result of the inversion of the sub-color density data, the output of the OR circuit 129 goes to L level and the AND gate 130 becomes disabled. Therefore, the new sub color flag SCF becomes L level.In other words, the background area is identified by the color flag.On the other hand,
In the case of first color negative/positive inversion, since the inversion signal of the sub color flag is simply the main color 7-lag MCF, as a result of the inversion of the main color density data, the density becomes "0".
Pixels that are (white) are processed not as background areas but as pixels in the main color area.

V1 Image Forming Section This image forming section embodies image forming means, which is a component of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

The density data D and color flags (MCF, 5CF) processed in parallel by the correction/filter circuit 70 and the editing/processing circuit 100 as described above are sent to the laser printer 150 via the interface circuit 140. The data is transferred to an image forming device such as an image transceiver 170 such as a fax machine.

For example, a laser printer 1 performs processing in this image forming device.
50 will be explained below as an example. In this case, the entire copying machine is configured as described above.

The basic configuration of a laser printer 150 that forms a two-color image based on the density data D and color flags is shown in FIG. 27, for example. The two-color dual-image forming laser printer shown here uses an electrophotographic method, and forms an image with the main color black and the sub color red in one image forming cycle. This is a so-called 1 bus 2 color (IP2C) type copying machine.

In FIG. 27, in order to perform the image forming process around the photosensitive drum 2) (0), the charger 2) (1) and the sub color (
Current 11JR2) (2) for main color (black), current flElvs2) (3, Corotron 2 before transfer) (8,
The cleaning devices 2) (6) are arranged, and the exposure position ps of the sub color is set just before the developing machine 2) (6) for the sub color, and the exposure position ps of the sub color is set just before the developing machine 2) (6) for the main color. Exposure positions P are set respectively. Regarding the exposure system, the irradiation light from the image writing laser diode 161 for the main color is applied to a polygon mirror 164 and f which are rotated at a constant speed by a servo motor 163.
It is set to reach the main color exposure position pm through an optical system such as a θ lens 165 and reflecting mirrors 167 and 168,
Image about sub-color Old laser diode 1
Similarly, the irradiated light from 60 is applied to polygon mirrors 164 and f.
-Theta lens 165 and further the anti-tFJil 166ri optical system are set to reach the Zab color exposure position Ps. In addition, a corotron 2) (4) for transfer and a daytack 2 (5) for peeling off the recording sheet are arranged at the transfer position around 0 of the photosensitive drum 2) (0), and at this position, each of the above-mentioned developers 12) (2.2 ) (Photoconductor drum 2 due to 3)
(The red toner image and black toner image formed on the recording sheet 210 are transferred all at once to the recording sheet 210 that is conveyed from the paper feeding system.
Is 10 even more certain? 2) After the image fixing in 2) (7), the image is discharged onto, for example, rays 1 to 2.

On the other hand, the above picture 1g1I! Included laser diode 16
Looking at the control system of 0.161, it is as follows.

Density data [)m and color flag CF are supplied to each pixel via the image processing system interface circuit 140 described above, and then, based on the color flag CF, main color density data D1m (black density) and sub color density are determined. A switching circuit 151 for separating DS (red density) is provided. Note that in the processing section, the color flag is composed of two bits, the main color flag MCF and the sub color flag SC, but the color flag CF provided to the switching circuit 151 is
When set to 0, it can be changed to a 1-bit configuration that expresses subcolors and other colors. Specifically, the above sub color flag SCF
Only the data is transferred from the interface circuit 140 to the subsequent stage. That is, the pixels in the background area are treated as being included in the main color area, and the color flag CF that controls this switching circuit 151 is at H level for both threads in the sub color area, and at L level for pixels in other areas. That's what I do.

The specific configuration of the switching circuit 151 is shown in FIG. 28, for example. That is, depending on the state of the color flag, the output is sent to two input signals (A.

Two selection circuits 171 and 172 are provided to select from the concentration data D/fi selection circuit 171 and the input terminal A of the selection circuit 172, respectively. 0'' data is input to the terminal A and the input terminal B on the opposite side of the selection circuit 172, respectively.These selection circuits 171 and 172 input the L level control input to the A side and the H level control input. The input signals on the B side are selected respectively, and the color flag CF is the relevant control input.The output of one selection circuit 171 is the sub color δ power data DS1, and the other selection circuit 172
The output of the main color density data [)m is transferred pixel by pixel to the subsequent stage. In the switching circuit 151 having such a configuration, the corresponding sub-color density data DS for both threads in the sub-color area is transferred to the subsequent stage, while the corresponding sub-color density data DS for the pixels in other areas (main color area and background area) are transferred to the subsequent stage. The main color temperature data [)m is transferred to the subsequent stage.

The main color density data □m and the sub color density data [)S separated by this switching circuit 151 are sent to the first screen generator 152, and the sub color fa degree data [)S is sent to the first screen generator 152, and the main color density data [)m is input to the second screen generator 153.

Each of the screen generators 152 and 153 converts each density data Qn+, [)s, which is expressed in 256 gradations in 8 bits and is passed through the switching circuit 151, into a laser diode modulation code for each pixel. . Specifically 2
It converts the m-degree data D expressed in 56 gradations into the laser lighting area ω of each pixel. For example, as shown in FIG. 29, one pixel P is divided into three divisions M (sub-vixels) SP1 to SP3 are set, and the laser lighting area is determined according to the density data D by the number of divided pixels.

The modulation codes output from the screen generators 152 and 153 are set as shown in Table 6, for example.

According to Table 6, it is possible to express the density in four stages for each pixel, as shown in FIGS. 29(a) to 29(d), for example.

In addition, as mentioned above, when converting the 256-level S degree data D into a 4-stage code, the threshold values for each stage are determined based on the color reproduction characteristics (development characteristics) of each color, and are faithful to the input density data. Settings are made so that color reproduction is achieved. Therefore, separate threshold values are set for the first screen generator 152 based on the color reproduction characteristics of the sub color (red) and for the second screen generator 153 based on the color reproduction characteristics of the main color (black).

The sub color modulation code SC from the first screen generator 152 is sent to the FIFO memory (first-in, first-out) 154 for one line, and the main color modulation code MC from the second screen generator 153 is
are the respective corresponding ROs via the gap memory 156.
It is input to the S control circuit 155, the second ROS t, and the IJ a11 circuit 157. The gap memory 156 is
As described above, the sub-color exposure section @PS and the main color exposure position Pm are separated by the gap Gp on the photosensitive drum 2) (0 from the relationship of the arrangement of each developing device 2) (2, 2) (3). This is to delay the transfer timing of the main color modulation code by an amount corresponding to the gap Gp in order to align the formation positions of the sub color image and the main color image from the gap memory 156.
The timing of writing and reading is based on each of the above exposure positions ps,
It is determined by the gap Gl) in pm and the rotational speed of the photosensitive drum.

The -RO8th control circuit 155 generates a laser modulation signal of a corresponding system based on the sub-color modulation code SC, and also generates a control signal for the servo motor 163 for rotating the polygon mirror 164. Further, the second RO8 control circuit 157 alternately receives the same wJ signal from the -th RO8 control circuit 155 and outputs the main color modulation code MC.
The laser modulation signal of the corresponding system is generated based on the .

The motor driver 162 drives the polygon mirror servo motor 163 at a constant speed based on the control signal from the -RO8 control circuit 155, and the laser driver 162 drives the polygon mirror servo motor 163 at a constant speed based on the sub-color modulation signal from the -RO8 control circuit 155. 158 turns on/off the image writing laser diode 160 for the sub color, and a laser driver 159 drives the image writing laser diode 161 for the main color based on the main color modulation signal from the second RO8 control circuit 157. It performs on/off driving.

By controlling the on/off of the main color image writing laser diode 161 and the sub color image writing laser diode 160 as described above, the charger 2) (photosensitive drum 2 uniformly charged by 1) (0) is An electrostatic latent image is formed in a potential state corresponding to each color, and each electrostatic wIf!
The sub color is currently 1m for IL! 12)(2
Red toner development, development 12 for main color
)(3, black toner development is performed.Then, the field and black toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 2)(0 are transferred onto the recording sheet 210 supplied from the paper feeding system, and further image fixation is performed. After that, a recording sheet with two-color reproduction is discharged.

In addition, in the image formation of the above-mentioned sub-color, as shown in FIG. 31 (
As shown in a), a latent *Z1 whose exposed area becomes an image area is formed, and this latent *Z1 is developed in a developing machine 2) (2) under the first developing bias VBI to form a subcolor ( A toner image T1 of red) is formed.In the main color image formation described above, a latent image Z2 is formed in which the non-exposed area is the image area as shown in FIG. 31(b), and this latent image Z2 is The main color (black) toner mT2 is developed by the developing machine 2) (3) under the second developing bias VB2.Specifically, these toner images T1 and T2 are Corotron 2) (transfer with the C polarity aligned at 8, transfer corotron 2) (4) is transferred all at once onto the recording sheet 210.

■Summary In the above embodiment, the G read by the full color sensor 10
Density data and color flags are generated for each pixel from the BR information, and subsequent processing is performed using m degree data D and color flags (MC
F, 5CF). In the case of a two-color copying machine, the 0 degree information is separated for each color based on information based on color flags, and the image forming process for each color is executed based on the separated density information. in this way,
According to this embodiment, two-color image formation is realized without using overlapping processing systems for each color for density information.

Further, in the color conversion process, it is possible to easily change reproduced colors by only processing color flags without performing any substantive processing on density data.

Note that, in the original image input section, a two-color sensor using two-color filters can be used instead of the GBR separation type full-color sensor 10t'. In that case, the relationship between the output of each filter and the discrimination color is determined based on the spectral characteristics of the filter. As a result, the color discrimination algorithm in the color image information generation circuit 50 is determined by the characteristics of the filter used. Further, it is also possible to perform scanning of the document by the CCD sensor multiple times by switching filters, for example, three times for RGB, and perform color discrimination based on the sensor output state each time. In this case, pixel-by-pixel read data is stored in a page memory every time reading is performed by each filter, and color discrimination is performed based on the stored data. Furthermore, it is also possible to configure the apparatus in a manner that does not particularly use the original image input section as in the above embodiment. This is the case, for example, when a multicolor graphic image drawn by a computer or the like is used as an original image to generate paired a-degree information and color information for each pixel. The information regarding the original picture is also GB like in the above example.
Even if it is not R data, the above predetermined spectral characteristic relationship is achieved 2
It can be realized by using color component data or component data in another color system, for example, an XY color system.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the reproduction of a two-color image was explained as an example, but even when reproducing a color image of three or more colors, the basic configuration of the processing system related to density information and the processing system related to color flags is also required. remains unchanged. In this case, the number of pits in the color flag only increases in accordance with the number of colors to be reproduced. Furthermore,
In the case of the above embodiment, the color information is differentiated from other color information for pixels that have no density (pixels in the paradoxical region) and is divided into (D0)2.
Although bit color information is assigned to the pixel, since the pixel originally has no density, there is no problem in basic processing even if the same color information as other color information is assigned. actually,
In the above embodiment as well, the ink face circuit 140 changes the color information for pixels that do not have density to the same color information as the main color pixels, and the subsequent laser printer 150 processes using the changed color information. ing.

Correction/filter circuit 70. The processing in the processing section constituted by the editing/processing circuit 100 is not limited to that described above. All general processing related to correction, editing, processing, etc. performed in normal image processing is targeted.

The image forming means has been described using an example using a so-called 1-bath 2-color electrophotographic laser printer that prints in two colors in one image forming process, but it prints in multiple colors in one image forming process. Of course, it is also applicable to a mode in which a multicolor image is reproduced by overlapping and transferring color images formed in each of a plurality of image forming processes, rather than a mode in which printing is performed.

In the above embodiment, density data and color flags are processed in real time using a so-called 1-pass 2-color copying machine as an example, but density data and color flags are first stored for one page, and then It may also be one that reproduces colors. In this case, if there is a memory that can store one page of combined density data and color flags, the data can be stored without using one page's worth of memory for each color.

Furthermore, in the case of a facsimile, instead of repeatedly transferring one page of data for each color, it is sufficient to simply run the combined density data and color flag data once for each page. Then, on the receiving side, the density data is separated based on the color flags and each color image is reproduced in the same manner as in the above embodiment.

[Effects of the Invention J As described above, according to the present invention, density information and color information are generated from information about the original image, and they are output as a pair for each pixel, so that color and density can be identified. It is possible to generate multicolor image information without the need for redundant processing for each color while maintaining the state in which the relationship between pixel position and color density has been identified. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to provide the same configuration for each color in parallel as a subsequent processing system for multicolor image information, and unnecessary device configurations are prevented. Further, the memory capacity ω can be reduced as much as possible when storing multicolor image information, and the number of data channels actually used for transfer can be reduced as much as possible when transferring the multicolor image information. Furthermore,
Even if the number of types of colors to be handled increases, the number of types of processing in the color processing system increases, and the device configuration of both the 13 degree processing system and the color processing system does not increase.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1(a) is a block diagram showing the configuration of a multicolor image information generation device according to the present invention, FIG. 1(b) and (C) are block diagrams showing the configuration of the image processing device according to the present invention, and FIG. Fig. 2 is a basic block diagram showing an example of the location of the multicolor image information generation device and image processing device according to the present invention, Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of a full color sensor, and Fig. 4 is an example of the arrangement of each cell of the full color sensor. 5 to 7 are circuit diagrams showing an example of the configuration of a sensor interface circuit, FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a cell configuration in pixel units, and FIG. 9 is a configuration of a color image information generation circuit. A circuit diagram showing an example, Fig. 10 shows the state of the discrimination color in the color space, Fig. 11 shows the correspondence with the ghost in the color space, and Fig. 14 shows an example of the state of the ghost. 15 and 16 are diagrams illustrating examples of ghost bit determination patterns, FIG. 17 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example configuration of a ghost correction circuit, and FIG. 18 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example configuration of a color conversion processing circuit. 19 is a diagram showing the processing mode in the color conversion processing circuit, and FIG.
) (Figure 21 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a color flag processing circuit, Figure 21 is a diagram showing an example of color flag processing, Figure 22 is a diagram showing an example configuration of a density data processing circuit, and Figure 23 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a density data processing circuit. 24 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the configuration of a negative/positive inversion circuit; FIGS. 25 and 26 are diagrams showing an example of the state of cJrIt data and color flags in negative/positive inversion processing; FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of data processing. Figure 1 shows an example of the basic configuration of an electrophotographic two-color printer, Figure 28 shows an example of the configuration of a circuit that separates electrical manufacturing data using color flags, and Figure 2 shows an example of the basic configuration of an electrophotographic two-color printer.
Figure 9 shows examples of divided pixels that make up one pixel.
31 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between a laser modulation code corresponding to density data and a laser lighting state, and FIG. 31 is a diagram showing an example of development characteristics of main color and sub color. [Description of symbols] 1... Original image 2... Density generation means 3... Color information generation means 4... Color image information output means 5... Density processing system 6... Color processing system 7. ...processed color image information output means 8...image forming means 10...full color sensor 2) (...sensor interface circuit 50...color image information generation circuit 70...correction/filter circuit 100...・Editing/processing circuit 140...Interface circuit 150...Laser printer 170...Image transceiver 180...Computer

Claims (11)

[Claims] (1) Density information generation means (2) that generates density information for each predetermined pixel from information regarding the original image (1), and color information generation means (2) that generates color information for each pixel from information about the original image (1). 3), and a color image information output means (4) for outputting a pair of density information (D) and color information (C) generated by each of the above generation means (2) and (3) for the same pixel. A multicolor image information generation device characterized by comprising: (2) density information generation means (2) for generating density information for each predetermined pixel from information regarding the original image (1); and color information generation means (2) for generating color information for each pixel from information regarding the original image (1). 3); and color image information output means (4) for outputting a pair of density information (D) and color information (C) generated by each of the generation means (2) and (3) for the same pixel; Paired density information (D) from color image information output means (4)
and color information (C), a density processing system (5) that processes density information (D) on a pixel-by-pixel basis, and a density processing system (5) that processes color information (D) on a pixel-by-pixel basis in response to the processing of density information (D).
A color processing system (6) that performs the processing of C), and processed density information (Dp) from the density processing system (5) and the color processing system (6).
1. An image processing apparatus characterized by comprising: processed color image information output means (7) for outputting processed color image information (Cp) in pairs with corresponding processed color information (Cp) from ) on a pixel-by-pixel basis. (3) density information generation means (2) for generating density information for each predetermined pixel from information regarding the original image (1); and color information generation means (2) for generating color information for each pixel from information regarding the original image (1). 3); and color image information output means (4) for outputting a pair of density information (D) and color information (C) generated by each of the generation means (2) and (3) for the same pixel; Paired density information (D) from color image information output means (4)
and color information (C), a density processing system (5) that processes density information (D) on a pixel-by-pixel basis, and a density processing system (5) that processes color information (D) on a pixel-by-pixel basis in response to the processing of density information (D).
A color processing system (6) that performs the processing of C), and processed density information (Dp) from the density processing system (5) and the color processing system (6).
) processed color image information output means (7) that outputs the corresponding processed color information (Cp) in pairs for each pixel; and density information (Dp) from the processed color image information output means (7). An image processing apparatus comprising an image forming means (8) for forming an image by pixel-by-pixel color density reproduction based on color information (Cp). (4) The density information generating means (2) optically scans the original image (1) and outputs a plurality of color component signals as information regarding the original image in predetermined pixel units; a density generation unit that generates density information for the pixel based on each color component signal from the color information generation unit (3), the color information generation unit (3) shares the image reading unit, A color discrimination section that discriminates the color corresponding to each color signal output state from the image reading section based on the relationship between the output state and the color; and a color discrimination section that generates color information about the pixel based on the discrimination result of the color discrimination section. 4. The multicolor image information generation device or image processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a color generation section. (5) The multi-color image information generation device or image according to claim 4, wherein the color generation section has a function of generating predetermined color information for pixels having no density, which is distinguished from other color information. Processing equipment. (6) When the density processing system (5) above generates density in the process of processing a pixel to which color information in the case of no density is attached, the density processing system (5) calculates the density of the pixel. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising density correction means for erasing information. (7) When the color processing system (6) above erases the density of a pixel to which color information is attached in the process of processing in the density processing system (5),
7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising color information modifying means for modifying color information regarding the pixel to color information in the case of no density. (8) The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the color processing system (6) includes color information conversion means for converting predetermined color information into other color information. (9) The multicolor image information generation device or image according to claim 4, wherein the color generation unit has a function of generating color information that is the same as any other color information for pixels that do not have density. Processing equipment. (10) The image forming means (7) includes a color image forming means for forming a gradation image according to density information for each color corresponding to each color information, and density information for each pixel that is paired based on the color information. 10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a switching means for switching the color image forming means to which the color image forming means is to be supplied. (11) The above image forming means for each color includes a latent image forming means for forming a latent image on a common image carrier according to the density information of the color, and a latent image forming means for each color formed on the common image carrier. A developing means for selectively developing a latent image corresponding to the corresponding color among the corresponding latent images with a developer of the color, and a color image made visible by the developer of each color on a common image carrier. and a common image transfer means for transferring images all at once onto a recording sheet, and the switching means switches the latent image forming means to which density information of the corresponding pixel level is to be supplied based on the color information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10.