Abstract:
An image processing apparatus includes a filtering processor that includes a filter and switches between a pre-filtering path and a post-filtering path; a data compressor that compresses image data output from the filtering processor; an image data storage that stores the image data compressed; and a data expandor that expands the image data stored. The pre-filtering path includes a first path sending a raw image data to the data compressor via the filter and a second path passing the image data expanded. The post-filtering path includes a third path passing the raw image data to the data compressor and a fourth path sending the image data expanded to the filter.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1) Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, particularly, to a filtering processor that switches between two filtering positions, the positions being before compression and after expansion of image data. 
   2) Description of the Related Art 
   An image processing apparatus, such as a scanner and a copying machine, reads an image data, compresses the image data, stores the image data compressed in an image memory, read the image data from the image memory, and expands the image data read. The image data expanded is further recorded in a memory or sent to an external device such as a computer. 
   Two compressions of image data, reversible and irreversible compressions, are known. The irreversible compression differs from the reversible compression in that the image data before and after compression and expansion are not the identical. 
   An image processing apparatus, which processes digital data, has a filtering function (e.g., an edge highlighting) as one of important functions. 
   A multifunction products (hereinafter, “MFP”) system, which stores multi-level images and has multiple functions such as scanning, facsimile, and printing functions, generally performs either pre-filtering or post-filtering. 
   In the pre-filtering, as is shown in  FIG. 9 , an MFP system  100  reads image data from a reader  101  and filters the image data by passing through a filtering processor  102 . The image data filtered is encoded by a data compressor (encoder)  103  in each 8 bit and is then stored in an external storage  104 . The MFP system  100  then reads the 8 bit data from the external storage  104  and expands the 8 bit data by a data expandor (decoder)  105 . The 8 bit data expanded is subjected to gradation conversion (dithered) by a gradation converter  106  and then printed out by a writer  107 . 
   On the other hand, the post-filtering is shown in  FIG. 10 . Same reference numerals are used for same components in  FIG. 9 . In the post-filtering, the image data read from the reader  101  and the 8 bit data compressed by the data compressor  103  are stored in the external storage  104 . The MFP system  100  then reads the 8 bit data from the external storage  104  and expands the 8 bit data by the expandor  105 . The 8 bit data expanded is filtered by the filtering processor  102 . The 8 bit data filtered is subjected to gradation conversion (dithered) by the gradation converter  106  and then printed out by the writer  107 .  10 . 
   Further, when the compression and expansion by the data compressor  103  and the data expandor  105  conform to the reversible compression, the same print output is obtained in both the pre-filtering and the post filtering. However, when the compression and expansion conforms to the irreversible compression, the print output is different in the pre-filtering and the post filtering, resulting in different image quality. This is because the frequency component of the image data is partially lost so as to reduce the size of the image data. 
   Thus, in a MFP system that employs the irreversible compression, the characteristics of output data are affected considerably depending on whether the filtering of the image data is the pre-filtering or the post-filtering. In other words, the filtering position is an important factor. 
   The irreversible compression, in many cases, makes a loss of the frequency component to the image data, thereby resulting in a phenomenon like a tendency to decrease in the edge sharpness of a character. 
   To correct the decrease in the edge sharpness, the filtering processor  102  as shown in  FIG. 11  performs the strong edge highlighting on image data read from the reader  101 , in case of the loss of the frequency component due to the irreversible compression. The image data filtered is compressed by the data compressor  103  and stored in the external storage  104 . The image data stored in the external storage  104  is expanded by the data expandor  105  and then is processed in a printer γ converter  108 . After that, the image data is processed in the gradation converter  106  and then printed out by the writer  107 . As a result, sharpness of characters is compensated. In the other words, even if edge data of a character is partially lost due to the irreversible compression, the improvement in sharpness of a character is not restricted and the image quality can be improved. 
   Moreover, when the image process is switched (hereinafter “adaptive γ conversion”) according to judgment whether on edge area or on no edge area (inside) of a character (e.g., a printer γ conversion table for adjusting the output density), to cut the cost down, the judgment is performed by using a first in first out (hereinafter, “FIFO”) buffer for the filtering. 
   For example, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the image data read from the reader  101  is compressed by the data compressor  103  and then stored in the external storage  104 . The image data stored in the external storage  104  is expanded by the data expandor  105  and filtered by the filtering processor  102 . For the image data filtered, the judgment of whether on edge area or on no edge area (inside) is performed by using a FIFO buffer of the filtering processor  102 . According to the judgment, the image data is subjected to adaptive γ conversion by the adaptive γ converter  109 . Then, the image data is subjected to gradation conversion by the gradation converter  106  and print output is obtained in the writer  107 . The γ conversion table depends on whether the image data is in the character area or in the picture area. Therefore, it is possible to obtain image density that is suitable to the corresponding area, so that the quality of mixture images of characters and pictures are improved. 
   However, since the printer γ conversion is a function to adjust the density of printing, in an image processing apparatus that stores 8 bit data like the MFP system  100 , the printer γ conversion must be performed in the subsequent stage. 
   Moreover, the post-filtering requires that both the filtering and the adaptive γ conversion are performed in the subsequent stage of the compression and expansion. 
   Therefore, the conventional image processing apparatuses as described above, to improve the image quality, require switching between the pre-filtering and the post-filtering according to the image data. However, to switch between the pre-filtering and the post filtering, there is a need to provide two filtering processors  102   a  and  102   b  respectively at the previous and subsequent stages of compression and expansion, as shown in  FIG. 13 . Moreover, each of the processors  102   a  and  102   b  must include the FIFO buffer. Such an image processing apparatus is high cost. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to at least solve the problems in the conventional technology. 
   The image processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a filtering processor that includes a filter and switches between a pre-filtering path and a post-filtering path; a data compressor that compresses image data output from the filtering processor; an image data storage that stores the image data compressed; and a data expandor that expands the image data stored, wherein the pre-filtering path includes a first path sending a raw image data to the data compressor via the filter and a second path passing the image data expanded, and the post-filtering path includes a third path passing the raw image data to the data compressor and a fourth path sending the image data expanded to the filter. 
   The method for filtering image data according to another aspect of the present invention includes choosing between a pre-filtering path and a post-filtering path; filtering raw image data when the pre-filtering path is chose; compressing the image data filtered when the pre-filtering path is chose, and compressing the raw image data when the post-filtering path is chose; storing the image data compressed; expanding the image data stored; and filtering the image data expanded when the post-filtering path is chose. 
   The other objects, features and advantages of the present invention are specifically set forth in or will become apparent from the following detailed descriptions of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic front view of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic front view of scanning parts of the image processing apparatus in a book mode; 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic front view of scanning parts of the image processing apparatus in an automatic document feeder mode; 
       FIG. 4  is a circuit block diagram of the image processing apparatus; 
       FIG. 5  is a circuit block diagram of an image processing section in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is circuit block diagram of the image processing section in  FIG. 5  in further details; 
       FIG. 7  is a function block diagram of the image processing apparatus; 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of the filtering processor in  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a block diagram of a conventional pre-filtering image processing apparatus; 
       FIG. 10  is a block diagram of a conventional post-filtering image processing apparatus; 
       FIG. 11  is a block diagram of another conventional pre-filtering image processing apparatus; 
       FIG. 12  is a block diagram of another conventional post-filtering image processing apparatus; and 
       FIG. 13  is a block diagram of a double filtering conventional image processing apparatus. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Exemplary embodiments according to the present invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the scope of the present invention is not restricted only to the aspects in the embodiments. 
     FIG. 1  is a schematic front view of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. The image processing apparatus  1  includes a contact glass  3 , on which a document to be read is set, on a topside of a main body  2  of an apparatus. A platen  4  is provided on a topside of the contact glass  3 . A user lifts the platen  4 , sets a document G on the contact glass  3 , and then lower the platen  4 . As a result, the document G is close to the contact glass  3 . 
   An automatic document feeder  5  is disposed on right topside of the main body  2  in  FIG. 1 . The automatic document feeder  5  includes an automatic document feeding (hereinafter “ADF”) unit  6  and a feeding tray  7 . The ADF unit  6  includes a stepping motor  8 . A plurality of documents G can be piled up on the feeding tray  7 . The ADF unit  6  in the automatic document feeder  5  separates the plurality of documents G one by one that are piled up on the feeding tray  7 . A separated document G is passed over the contact glass  3  by a separating roller  17  that is driven by the stepping motor  8  and pairs of transporting roller  18  and  19  (see  FIG. 3 ), and carried to the document discharging tray (not shown in the figure). 
   A white reference plate  9  for shading correction is disposed at a side of the contact glass  3  towards the ADF unit  6 . The automatic document feeder  5  is structured integrally with the platen  4  and when the platen  4  is lifted, the automatic paper feed  5  is lifted as well. 
   A first scanning component  10 , a second scanning component  11 , a lens  12 , a charge coupled device (hereinafter, “CCD”)  13 , and a scanning optical system  15  that includes a stepping motor  14 , are disposed inside the main body  2 . The first scanning component  10  includes a light source  10   a  and a mirror  10   b , and the second scanning component  11  includes mirrors  11   a  and  11   b.    
   In the scanning optical system  15 , the first scanning component  10  and the second scanning component  11  are moved horizontally (in a direction of secondary scanning). The light source  10   a  like a fluorescent lamp, irradiates light on a document G on the contact glass  3 . The light reflected from the document G is reflected by the mirror  10   b  in the first scanning component  10  in the direction of the scanning component  11 . The light from the first scanning component  10  is reflected from the mirrors  11   a  and  11   b  in the second scanning component  11  one after another and is outgoing to the lens  12 . The lens  12  gathers the light from the second scanning component  11  to the CCD  13  and allows it to irradiate. The CCD (line sensor)  13  includes a plurality of CCD elements as photoelectric sensing elements in one-dimensional lined up. The CCD elements transfer (sense) the light incoming from the lens  12  and outputs analog image data (image signal). Moreover, the scanning optical system  15  irradiates light on the white reference plate  9  and the light reflected from the white reference plate  9  is allowed to fall on the CCD  13  similarly as mentioned above and is output from the CCD  13  as white reference plate data. 
   The image processing apparatus  1  has two modes, a book mode and an ADF mode, for reading of a document. In the book mode, an image on a document G that is kept on the contact glass  3  by lifting the platen  4 , is read as shown in  FIG. 2 . In the ADF mode, by using the automatic document feeder  5 , the plurality of pairs of rollers  17  to  19  are driven by the stepping motor  8  to carry a plurality of documents G one after another from the feeding tray  7  to a predetermined reading position. An image on the document G is read by irradiating light from the light source  10   a  of the stationary first scanning component  10  on the document G. 
   In the book mode of the image processing apparatus  1 , when the platen  4  is lifted and a document G is set on the contact glass  3 , the light source  10   a  is turned on and the white reference plate  9  is read first as shown in  FIG. 2 . Then, reference data for the shading correction is acquired. Further, the stepping motor  14  is driven and the first scanning component  10  and the second scanning component  11  move in the direction of second scanning where the optical path length between the document G and the CCD  13  becomes uniform and an image on the document G on the contact glass  3  is read. 
   On the other hand, in the ADF mode of the image processing apparatus  1 , when a plurality of documents G is set in the feeding tray  7 , to start with, the light source  10   a  is turned on and the white reference plate  9  is read as shown in  FIG. 3 . Then, the stepping motor  8  is driven to separate documents G one after another set in the feeding tray by the separating roller  17 . The separated documents are carried by the pairs of transporting rollers  18  and  19  to the predetermined reading position of the first scanning component  10 . Here, the documents G are carried at a uniform speed. With the first scanning component  10  and the second scanning component  11  in a halting position, the light is irradiated from the light source  10   a  of the first scanning component  10  to the document G. The light reflected from the document G is reflected by the mirror  10   b  and the mirrors  11   a  and  11   b  in the second scanning component  11 . The reflected light is allowed to fall on the CCD  13  through the lens  12 . The light is subjected to photoelectric transfer (sensing) at CCD  13  and the image on the document G is read. 
   The image processing apparatus  1  includes circuit blocks of a central processing unit (hereinafter, “CPU”)  20 , a read only memory (hereinafter, “ROM”)  21 , a random access memory (hereinafter, “RAM”)  22 , a light source driver  23 , a light source  10   a , a CCD driver  24 , a CCD  13 , an image processor  25 , a scan buffer  26 , a buffer controller  27 , an interface controller  28 , a motor driver  29 , a stepping motor  14 , a motor driver  30 , and a stepping motor  8 . 
   The ROM  21  stores programs like a basic process program of the image processing apparatus  1 , a filtering switching program that is mentioned later etc., and data required to execute these programs. RAM  22  stores data required for operation of the image processing apparatus  1 . The CPU  20  executes the program in ROM  21  by using RAM  22  as a work memory. The program controls the components of the image processing apparatus  1  thereby executing the sequence as the image processing apparatus and switches filtering that is mentioned later. 
   The light source  10   a  is turned on and off by the light source driver  23  controlled by the CPU  20 . The CCD  13  is driven by the CCD driver  24  and outputs image data that is subjected to photoelectric transfer (sensing) to the image processor  25 . 
   The stepping motor  8  is driven by the motor driver  30  and the stepping motor  14  is driven by the motor driver  29 . 
   The scan buffer (image data storing unit)  26  is connected to the image processor  25 . The image processor  25  includes an analog video process  41 , a shading correction processor  42 , an image data processor  43 , a timing generator  44 , and a binarizing processor  45 . 
   An analog image signal Sa that is output from the CCD  13  is input to the analog video processor  41 . The analog video processor  41  converts the analog image signal Sa to digital image data and outputs it to the shading correction processor  42 . 
   The shading correction processor  42  stores the image data when white reference plate  9  is read, in the RAM as reference data and carries out shading correction based on reference data corresponding to image data when the document G is read. The shading correction processor  42 , then outputs image data after the shading correction, to the image data processor  43 . 
   The image data processor  43  processes the image data that is processed in the shading correction processor  42 , according to an enable signal EN that is input from the timing generator  44 . The processed data is then output to the binarizing processor  45 . The binarizing processor (compressor, expandor)  45  converts the processed image data to either binary data or multi-value data by irreversible compression and outputs it to the scan buffer  26  and expands the compressed image data that is in the scan buffer  26 . The image data processor  43  stores data of few lines in a line buffer, forms matrix, and carries out space filtering of the image data. Moreover, the timing generator  44  outputs stepping pulse SP to the motor driver  29  and the motor driver  30 , and controls the drive timing of the stepping motor  14  and the stepping motor  8  through the motor driver  29  and the motor driver  30 . 
   In the image processor  25 , the processed image data Sb is stored in the scan buffer  26  under the control of the buffer controller  27 . This stored data is output to another information processing unit (not shown in the figure) like a personal computer through the interface controller  28 . 
   The image processor  25  includes a pre-amplifier  51 , a variable amplifier  52 , an analog-digital converter  53 , a black level calculator  54 , a shading correction calculator  55 , and a line buffer  56  as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
   In the image processing apparatus  1 , the light source  10   a  irradiates light on a document G on the contact glass  3 . The light reflected from the document G passes through a shading adjustment plate  16 , then gathered by the lens  12 , and an image is formed in the CCD  13 . In  FIG. 6 , a mirror that returns the reflected light is omitted for simplification. The shading adjustment plate  16  adjusts the light to eliminate the difference between the reflected light at the center and at the end of the CCD  13 . In other words, if there is a great difference between the reflected light at the center and at the end of the CCD, only the result of shading calculation including lot of distortion is obtained. Therefore, the shading calculation is carried out after eliminating the difference between the reflected lights in advance, by the shading adjustment plate  16 . 
   The analogue video processor  41  includes the pre-amplifier  51  and the variable amplifier  52 . The shading correction processor  42  includes the analog-digital converter  53 , the black level calculator  54 , the shading correction calculator  55 , and the line buffer  56 . 
   The image data processor  43  processes the image data input from the shading correction processor  42  that is subjected to shading correction by carrying out adaptive γ conversion of switching the image processing according to whether on edge area or no edge area (inside). This includes, particularly, filtering like an edge highlighting filtering etc. 
   The CPU  20  determines whether the image data processor  43  carries out this filtering and which filtering is to be carried out. 
   Thus, the image processing apparatus  1  can be represented functionally as in  FIG. 7  including a reader  61 , a filtering processor  62 , a data compressor  63 , a memory  64 , a data expandor  65 , an adaptive γ converter  66 , a gradation converter  67 , and an output section  68 . 
   The filtering processor carries out pre-filtering and post-filtering. In pre-filtering, image data is read in the reader  61 , and compressed in the data compressor  63 . The compressed data is filtered before storing image data in the memory  64 . In post filtering, image data stored in the memory  64  is expanded in the data expandor and then filtered. The CPU  20  determines which filtering is to be carried out and switches accordingly. In a case of pre-filtering, the image data output from the expandor  65  and in a case of post-filtering, the image data output from the filtering processor  62 , are input respectively to the adaptive γ converter  66 . The image data output from the adaptive γ converter  66  is converted in the gradation converter  67  and then output from the output section  68 . 
   In other words, the filtering processor  62 , switches the flow of the image data to a filtering calculator  70  by switching between a register A and a register B as shown in  FIG. 8 , thereby switching between the pre-filtering and the post filtering. If the filtering processor  62  is connected to the register B, in a previous stage, instead of the image data entering into the filtering calculator  70  from the previous stage input, it enters into the memory  64  from the previous stage output. The image data from the subsequent stage input from the memory  64  go into the filtering calculator  70  through the register B, output from the subsequent stage output and then subjected to post-filtering. Moreover, the filtering processor, while pre-filtering connects to register A and first of all, image data from previous stage output enters into the filtering calculator  70 . The image data is filtered in the filtering calculator, enters into the memory  64  from a previous stage output, and is subjected to pre-filtering. Further, when the image data from the memory  64  is input from the subsequent stage input if the connection is still with the register A, image data from the subsequent stage input from the memory  64  is output as it is from the subsequent stage output through the register A. When the pre-filtered image data is input from the subsequent stage input of the memory  64 , if a switching to register B takes place, the data is subjected to post-filtering, thus both of the pre-filtering and the post-filtering are carried out. 
   As a result, the image data processor  43  filters data by switching between the pre-filtering and the post-filtering. Switching between the register A and register B under the control of CPU  20  as shown in  FIG. 8  carry out the switching between the pre-filtering and the post-filtering. In pre-filtering, the compressed image data is filtered before storing in the scan buffer  26 , which is the memory  64  as shown in  FIG. 7  and in the post-filtering the image data that is compressed and stored in the scan buffer  26  is filtered after expansion. 
   For example, the image data processor  43  carries out pre-filtering if a large part of the information on document G is characters and the image data processor  43  carries out post-filtering if a large part of the information on document G is characters and pictures. Any one or either of the pre-filtering and the post-filtering may be carried out. Moreover, the pre-filtering and the post-filtering may be carried out in two ways. In the first way, the user of the image processing apparatus  1 , judges from the information on a document that is read by the image processing apparatus  1  and the operation is carried out based on instructions from the operating section of the image processing apparatus  1 . The CPU  20  controls the switching between the pre-filtering and the post-filtering in accordance with the operation. In the second way, the image processing apparatus  1 , for example the image data processor  43 , judges from an image on the document G and the CPU  20  controls the switching between the pre-filtering and the post-filtering. In this case, the CPU  20  is a control unit of the present invention. 
   Thus, in the image processing apparatus  1  in the present embodiment, digital image data that is subjected to irreversible compression is stored in the scan buffer  26 . The compressed image data in the scan buffer  26  is expanded and the digital image data is subjected to predetermined filtering in the image data processor  43  that is a filtering unit. The filtering is carried out by switching between the pre-filtering i.e. the filtering before the compression of the image data and the post-filtering i.e. the filtering after the expansion of the image data. 
   In this way, it is possible to carry out filtering in the image data processor  43  that is a filtering unit, by switching between the pre-filtering and the post filtering according to the characteristics of the image data that is subjected to processing. This enables to improve the image quality at a low cost and to have an output with characteristics to meet the expectations of a user. 
   In the image processing apparatus  1  in the present embodiment, when information of the image data is mainly character information, the image data is subjected to the pre-filtering. The image data is mainly character information, here means that 80 percent or more of the image data is character information. However, it is not restricted to this figure of 80 percent. 
   Thus, it is possible to improve the sharpness of characters of the image data, which is main information, thereby improving the image quality remarkably, at a low cost. 
   Moreover, in the image processing apparatus  1  in the present embodiment, when information of the image data is mainly character information and picture information, the image data is subjected to post-filtering. The image data is mainly character information and picture information, here means that 80 percent or more of the image data is character information and picture information. However, it is not restricted to this figure of 80 percent. 
   Thus, it is possible to improve the sharpness of characters and reduce moiré of a screening picture, thereby improving the image quality of both characters and pictures remarkably, at a low cost. 
   The present document incorporates by reference the entire contents of Japanese priority documents, 2002-258346 filed in Japan on Sep. 4, 2002. 
   Although the invention has been described with respect to a specific embodiment for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying all modifications and alternative constructions that may occur to one skilled in the art which fairly fall within the basic teaching herein set forth.