JPH0670159A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely decide the image data inputted from a network of a file by changing the data needed for decision of a special original based on the type and the input system of the input image data. CONSTITUTION:In a normal copy processing state, the RGB data outputted from a scanner 101 are selected by a selector 108 which selects an external interface 107 or the scanner 101 as the input side of the image data. Then only the G data selected by the selector 108 is sent to a special original deciding part 104 and used for the deciding processing. This deciding result is outputted to a system controller 111. Thus the type and the input system of the data used for decision of a special original are changed in response to the type and the input system of the input image data. Then the image data are subjected to distinction processing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus used in a color copying machine or the like, and more specifically, it is possible to determine whether or not the contents of input image data are special manuscripts such as banknotes and securities. The present invention relates to an image processing device having a discrimination function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, due to improvements in image processing technology and image forming technology, it has become possible to carry out delicate copying such that copy bills copied by a color copying machine and actual bills cannot be easily distinguished. For this reason, an apparatus for discriminating special documents such as banknotes and securities, prohibiting illegal copying in the case of special documents, and an image processing apparatus having a function of discriminating special documents have been developed.

As a device for discriminating a special document, for example, a method using a pattern matching method is generally used as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-83571 "Image recording device". In this apparatus, it is determined whether or not the original is a specific copy-inhibited original based on the input image data and the pattern data registered in advance.

There is also an image processing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2105101/1990. This device detects the empty position of the bill by detecting the empty position of the bill, and further detects the four corners of the bill to calculate the exact position and angle of the bill, After that, pattern matching is performed based on the image data and the pattern data registered in advance to obtain the degree of similarity, and it is determined whether or not the original is a specific copy-inhibited original.

[0005]

However, in the conventional image processing apparatus, since the special original discriminating process is executed for the image data input through the scanner, the image data input from another input device is processed. However, there is a problem that the special document determination process is not performed.

Further, in the conventional image processing apparatus, the process of discriminating the special document is performed by one kind of method, but the types of the image data to be input are R (red), G (green),
Data of three colors of B (blue), data of three colors of Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan), Y, M, C, and
There are four types of K (black) data, and there are various transfer methods such as parallel to each color or surface-to-line, line-to-point, or dot-to-color, so that appropriate discrimination processing is not always performed. There was also the problem that it was not forgotten.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is a first object of the present invention to execute an optimum discrimination process according to the type of input image data and the transfer method.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and a second object of the present invention is to accurately determine image data by inputting from a network or a file without passing a scanner.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and a third object thereof is to make it possible to determine whether the image data output to the network or the file is a special original.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has three color data of R (red), G (green) and B (blue), Y (yellow) and M (magenta).・ C (cyan) 3 color data, Y ・ M ・ C ・ K
Image data of any one type or multiple types of (black) four-color data and one or more types of plane order, line order, or dot order for each color parallel or for each color Image data input means capable of inputting, a selection means for selecting the type and input method of the input image data, a background level extraction means for extracting a background area of a specific background level from the input image data, and a background level extraction A storage means for storing the background area extracted by the means as a bit map; a background shape determination means for determining whether the background area stored in the storage means matches a preset shape; and a background shape determination means. When the determination results are the same, the determination unit that determines the input image data as a special document is provided, and the type of the image data for inputting the data for determining the special document is input. And there is provided an image processing apparatus which switches the input method. .

In the above configuration, the input source of the image data to be input is the internal scanner, the external scanner, or an external device other than the scanner, and the output destination of the image data image-processed by the main body of the image processing device is the internal device. Printer,
It is an external printer or an external device other than the printer, and it is desirable that one set or a combination of a plurality of these can be used. Further, when a plurality of combinations are possible, it is desirable to provide an input / output selection means for selecting an input / output device. Further, when inputting / outputting image data to / from an external device, it is desirable to provide a control processing unit on the external device side.

Further, in order to achieve the second object, the present invention is provided with a discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the image data is a special manuscript such as bills, securities, etc., and the electric signal is sent via a network. (EN) An image processing device for discriminating image data by a discriminating means when the image data is inputted and when the image data is inputted by a magnetic signal via a file or the like.

Further, in order to achieve the third object, the present invention is provided with a discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the image data is a special manuscript such as bills, securities, etc., and the image data is networked by an electric signal. The present invention provides an image processing device that discriminates image data by a discriminating means when outputting the image data to a file or the like with a magnetic signal.

[0014]

The image processing apparatus of the present invention selects the type and the input method of the input image data according to the type and the input method of the input image data, and inputs the data for determining the special original. Switching is performed according to the type and input method, and image data discrimination processing is executed.

Further, when the image data is input as an electric signal via the network and when the image data is input as a magnetic signal via a file or the like, the image data discrimination processing is executed.

Further, when the image data is output to the network by an electric signal and when the image data is output to a file or the like by a magnetic signal, the image data discriminating process is executed.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The case where the image processing apparatus of the present invention is applied to an image forming system configured by using a color digital copying machine and a connection interface with external equipment will be described in detail below as an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the image forming system of this embodiment. In the figure, 101 is a scanner for reading a document, 102 is an image processing unit for performing γ correction processing, gradation processing, etc. on input image data, 103 is a printer for outputting image data subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 102, Reference numeral 104 denotes a special manuscript discrimination unit for discriminating whether or not the image data is a special manuscript such as banknotes or securities, 1
Reference numeral 05 is a bitmap memory, 106 is an external device, 106
a is a controller of the external device, 107 is the external device 106
Is an external interface (I / F) for inputting image data from the image processing unit 102 to the image processing unit 102, and 108 is an external I / F 1.
08 or the scanner 101 as a selector for selecting an image data input source, 109 is an external interface (I / F) for outputting image data from the image processing unit 102 to the external device 106, and 110 is an external I / F 1
09 or the printer 103 to select as the output destination of the image data, 111 is the external device 10
6, a system controller for controlling the above-mentioned respective parts excluding the external I / Fs 107, 109 is shown.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. In the case of normal copying processing, the output from the scanner 101 is R, G, B data, which is sent to the selector 108 and selected by the selector 108. Image processing unit 10
In 2, the R, G, B data is converted to density data by γ correction, and the masking equation is solved to obtain Y, M
・ Convert to CK data. In the case of a printer having four sets of image forming units, Y, M, C, and K data are sent to the next selector 110 in parallel and embodied by the printer 103. On the other hand, if there is only one output image forming unit,
The G / B data is sequentially converted into any of Y / M / C / K data and output to the printer 103.

Further, as the data of the selector 108, only the G data is sent to the special document discriminating section 104 as it is, and the discriminating process is carried out, and the discriminating result is outputted to the system controller 111. In addition, the image processing unit 102 converts the color saturation data to use in the discrimination processing, and
It can also be converted to C data or further K data and used for the discrimination processing. In the system controller 111,
The printer 103 may be stopped or the printer 1 may be stopped based on the determination result.
Change the γ correction value of 03 so that a normal image cannot be obtained.

In the case of output to the external device 106, the input is controlled according to the mode of the output destination. When the output destination is a memory or the like, the data is erased or the contents of the file are rewritten through the interface according to the determination result. When the output destination is an external printer or the like, the same processing can be performed if the external printer has a memory and data is pooled once and then image formation is started. In other cases, the image data is generally output in the plane order, so that the normal image cannot be obtained by converting the last color data.

When outputting from the external device 106 to the internal printer 103, the same processing as that from the scanner 101 is performed.

Further, the controller 10 of the external device 106
It is also possible to mount system control software on the 6a and control the processing by this.

Next, the discrimination processing will be described with reference to FIG. The bitmap memory 105 stores an area 1 in which a plurality of data for preventing forgery is preset as shown in FIG. 2A and a background judgment result of an input image as shown in FIG. 2C. Area 2 to be provided. Area 1 has the size of a special manuscript such as bills and securities, or the size reduced to the extent that it does not affect the judgment, and area 2 has a size of one A3 size or the same as area 1. It has a size. FIG. 2B shows an example of data stored in areas 1-3.

The system controller 111 is a ROM
(Not shown) has background data of a special document, and Y, M,
If all the C and K data are discriminated, the bitmap data in area 1 is rewritten every scan, that is, every input cycle, and otherwise, it is written only once at system startup.

For the determination, the background region is detected by the background determination described later, and this is developed in the bit map of area 2.
The expanded bitmap is the system controller 111.
Thus, first, the contour of the background is traced, and it is determined whether or not the special document has a rectangular shape which is a general shape. If it is not rectangular, it is determined that it is not a special manuscript. On the other hand, if it is a rectangle, the shape of the background of the empty portion that is seen in general banknotes is further determined. Since it has already been determined to be a rectangle, only this area is rotated and shaped on the bitmap memory 105 as shown in FIG.
The data of area 1 shown in FIG. 2B, the start address, and the sticking position are aligned. The background judgment result of the input data thus shaped can be easily compared with the data of area 1. Based on the comparison result, it is determined whether the document is a special document.

Next, referring to FIG. 3, the special document discriminating section 1
The background determination in 04 will be described. The background level of the special document is stored in advance in the special document determination unit 104, and this is set as LThr (threshold value). Alternatively, in consideration of variations in input data, a value having a level higher than this value by about 10% may be set as LThr. The input data is sequentially read, 8 pixels from 3 pixels before to 4 pixels after the pixel of interest in the main scanning direction are referred to, the maximum value calculation unit 301 calculates the maximum value Max of 8 pixels, and the minimum value calculation unit 302 calculates 8 pixels. The minimum value Min of is calculated. Next, in the determination unit 303, the difference between the maximum value Max and the minimum value Min is a predetermined value RTh.
It is determined whether it is greater than r, and at the same time, the determination unit 304 determines whether the minimum value Min is smaller than the threshold value LThr. The background level detecting / storing unit 305 inputs the determination results of the determining units 303 and 304, and (Rt
hr> Max-Min), and (LThr> Min)
In this case, the minimum value Min is detected as the background level. The background level is sequentially switched when there is a change, and is used as the background determination level. In the background judgment, when a predetermined number or more of the 3 × 3 (= 9) pixels are equal to or less than the background, the pixel of interest in this area or the center is determined to be the background. This depends on the size of the bitmap memory 105.

As described above, in this embodiment, the image data type and the input method of the input image data are selected according to the type and the input method of the input image data, and the image data for inputting the data for the determination of the special document is input. Since the image data discrimination processing is executed by switching depending on the type and the input method, it is possible to accurately discriminate the image data by inputting from a network or a file without passing the scanner. In addition, it is possible to execute optimal discrimination processing according to the type of input image data and the transfer method.

By detecting the background of which the level is stable, it is possible to accurately discriminate bills and the like.

Further, when image data is input as an electric signal from an external device via a network and when image data is input as a magnetic signal via a file or the like, the image data discrimination processing is executed. Image data can be accurately discriminated by input from a network or file without passing a scanner.

Further, when the image data is output to the network by an electric signal and when the image data is output to a file or the like by a magnetic signal, the image data discrimination processing is executed, so that the image output to the network or the file is performed. It is possible to determine whether the data is a special document and prevent the image data to be output from being counterfeited.

[0031]

As described above, according to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, data of three colors of R (red), G (green), B (blue), Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C.
(Cyan) three-color data, Y, M, C, K (black) four-color data, any one type or a plurality of types, and the plane order / line order / Image data input means capable of inputting image data by any one of a plurality of dot order methods or a plurality of methods, selection means for selecting the type and input method of the input image data, and a specific background from the input image data. A background level extraction means for extracting a background level area, a storage means for storing the background area extracted by the background level extraction means as a bit map, and whether the background area stored in the storage means matches a preset form. If the determination results of the background morphology determining means and the background morphology determining means are the same,
It is equipped with a discriminating means for discriminating the input image data as a special manuscript, and the data for discriminating the special manuscript is switched depending on the type and input method of the image data. The image data can be accurately discriminated. In addition, it is possible to execute optimal discrimination processing according to the type of input image data and the transfer method.

Further, when image data is input as an electric signal from an external device via a network and when image data is input as a magnetic signal via a file or the like, the image data determination process is executed. Image data can be accurately discriminated by input from a network or file without passing a scanner.

Further, when the image data is output to the network by an electric signal and when the image data is output to a file or the like by a magnetic signal, the image output to the network or the file is performed in order to execute the image data discrimination processing. It is possible to determine whether the data is a special document and prevent the image data to be output from being counterfeited.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a block configuration diagram of an image forming system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a discrimination process of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a background determination in a special document determination section.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 Scanner 102 Image Processing Unit 103 Printer 104 Special Original Discrimination Unit 105 Bitmap Memory 106 External Device 106a Controller 107 External Interface 108 Selector 109 External Interface 110 Selector 111 System Controller

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Michiyoshi Tachikawa 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Within Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takeshi Uyo 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo In Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Yukio Sakano 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo In Ricoh Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. Data of three colors of R (red), G (green), B (blue), data of three colors of Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan), Y, M, and C.・ K
Image data of any one type or multiple types of (black) four-color data and one or more types of plane order, line order, or dot order for each color parallel or for each color Image data input means capable of inputting, a selection means for selecting the type and input method of the input image data, a background level extraction means for extracting a background area of a specific background level from the input image data, and the background Storage means for storing the background area extracted by the level extraction means as a bitmap; background background shape determining means for determining whether or not the background area stored in the storage means matches a preset form; When the judgment result of the form judging means is coincident, it is provided with a judging means for judging the inputted image data as a special manuscript, and the data for judging the special manuscript is inputted. The image processing apparatus characterized by switching the type and input method that the image data. 2. The input source of the input image data is an internal scanner, an external scanner, or an external device other than the scanner, and the output destination of the image data image-processed by the image processing apparatus main body is an internal printer or an external printer. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is an external device other than the printer, and one set or a combination of a plurality of these is possible. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an input / output selection means for selecting an input / output device when a plurality of combinations are possible. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a control processing unit is provided on the external device side when inputting / outputting image data to / from the external device. 5. A discrimination means for discriminating whether or not the image data is a special manuscript such as bills, securities, etc., when the image data is inputted by an electric signal through a network, or through a file or the like. An image processing apparatus, wherein the image data is discriminated by the discriminating means when the image data is inputted by a magnetic signal. 6. A method for determining whether or not the image data is a special manuscript such as bills, securities, etc., for outputting the image data to a network by an electric signal, and a file for the image data by a magnetic signal. An image processing apparatus, characterized in that the image data is discriminated by the discriminating means when the image data is output to the device.