JP4781327B2 - Image processing apparatus and image processing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method, and more particularly, to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method that perform image processing using an integrated circuit such as an ASIC at low cost and efficiency.

  In recent years, an image processing apparatus such as a digital copying apparatus is equipped with an integrated circuit for image processing, for example, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), and various kinds of images are obtained in an ASIC for image data read by a scanner. An output process is performed such as processing to create an output image and printing the output image with a printer.

  Image processing in such an image processing apparatus includes not only processing such as γ conversion that can be performed only with the target pixel and parameters, but also filter processing that performs processing including the target pixel and its surrounding pixels. And JPEG compression / decompression processing that performs processing as a block.

  The ASIC installed in the image processing apparatus is equipped with a memory such as SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) of the number of lines necessary for image processing including the peripheral pixels and image processing for processing as a block. Image processing is performed using the memory. As image processing using such a line memory, for example, the printer process is described in Patent Document 1, the resolution conversion process is described in Patent Document 2, and further, the compression / decompression process is described. Patent Document 3 describes.

JP 2005-295293 A Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-094061 JP 2004-289390 A

  However, in the above prior art, since the line memory necessary for image processing is mounted on the ASIC and image processing is performed, for example, in the case of A3 size 600 dpi, one line is about 7000 dots. When a plurality of line memories are prepared, it is necessary to mount a large amount of memory such as SRAM in the ASIC, and there is a problem that the mounted memory occupies a large area in the ASIC and the cost increases. In particular, a wide-width machine corresponding to a large paper size requires a memory several times larger, which further increases the cost.

  In order to solve this problem, when image processing is performed using a memory outside the ASIC, for example, the restriction of mechanical operation timing such as image reading by a scanner or image output by a plotter is satisfied. There is a problem that is difficult. In addition, if a fixed image processing memory is secured outside the ASIC, an extra external memory is required and the overall cost increases. In this case, if an attempt is made to dynamically secure a processing memory outside the ASIC, the CPU allocates the memory every time image processing is performed, increasing the load on the CPU and degrading the processing efficiency. There's a problem.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image processing apparatus and an image processing method with high processing efficiency while reducing the cost of an integrated circuit such as an ASIC.

  An image processing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is an integrated circuit on which a plurality of image processing modules for executing various types of image processing are mounted, storage means outside the integrated circuit, and the image processing module can be used for the storage means. Area securing means that secures a work area, and module area securing means that secures a module use area that is individually used by the image processing module in the work area secured by the area securing means, the image processing module comprising: When executing non-restricted image processing that is not restricted by the processing operation timing, the module area securing unit requests the module area securing unit, and the module area securing unit stores the work area in the work area of the storage unit. A module use area for the image processing module is secured within a range, and the image processing module uses the module use area. By performing the image processing, it has achieved the above objects.

  In this case, for example, as described in claim 2, when the module use area individually requested from the image processing module is larger than an empty area of the work area, the module area securing unit May be requested to secure expansion of the work area necessary for securing the module use area.

  In the case of claim 1 or claim 2, for example, as described in claim 3, the module area securing unit requests all of the modules after requesting the area securing unit to expand the work area. When the process using the work area is completed, the process completion notification may be notified to the area securing means.

  Further, for example, in the case of claims 1 to 3, for example, as described in claim 4, the area securing unit is a restricted image for restricted image processing that is restricted by processing operation timing of the image processing module. The processing area is fixedly secured in the storage means, and the module area securing means secures the restricted image processing area when a request for securing the restricted image processing area is received from the image processing module. Also good.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing method in which a plurality of image processing modules that are mounted on an integrated circuit and execute various types of image processing perform image processing using storage means outside the integrated circuit. Area securing processing step for securing a usable work area of the image processing module in the storage means, and area securing when the image processing module executes unconstrained image processing that is not restricted by the processing operation timing. An area securing request processing step for generating the request, and in response to the area securing request, the image processing module is individually within the range of the work area in the work area of the storage means secured in the area securing process step. The above-mentioned object is achieved by having a module area securing processing step for securing a module use area to be used for the above.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, when a plurality of image processing modules that execute various types of image processing mounted on an integrated circuit execute unconstrained image processing that is not restricted by the processing operation timing, the integrated circuit In the work area secured in the external storage means, a module use area individually used by the image processing module is secured within the range of the work area, and the image processing module uses the module use area. Since the image processing is executed, the cost of the integrated circuit can be reduced and the processing efficiency can be improved.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The scope of the present invention limits this invention especially in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.

  1 to 9 are diagrams showing an embodiment of an image processing apparatus and an image processing method of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a composite apparatus to which an embodiment of the image processing apparatus and the image processing method of the present invention is applied. FIG.

  In FIG. 1, the multifunction apparatus 1 includes an engine 100, a controller 200, an operation panel (not shown), a facsimile communication unit, and the like, and performs copy processing, printer processing, scanner processing, facsimile communication processing, and the like.

  The engine 100 includes an engine ASIC 101, a scanner 102, a scanner image processing ASIC 103, a plotter 104, a plotter control ASIC 105, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 106, a flash memory 107, an engine CPU (Central Processing Unit) 108, and the like. Includes an arbiter 110, a video output unit 111, a communication buffer 112, an engine-side work area control unit 113, a resolution conversion unit 114, a compression / decompression unit 115, and the like.

  On the other hand, the controller 200 includes a controller ASIC 201, a controller CPU 202, a hard disk 203, a main memory 204, and the like. The controller ASIC 201 includes a video input unit 210, an arbiter 211, a controller-side work area control unit 212, a distribution image processing unit 213, A controller image processing unit 214 and a hard disk I / F 215 are provided.

  The scanner 102 irradiates the document with reading light during the scanner operation, copy operation, and facsimile transmission operation, performs main scanning / sub scanning of the document, reads the image of the document, and performs scanner image processing on the image data of the document. Output to the ASIC 103.

  The scanner image processing ASIC 103 generates image data obtained by appropriately correcting the image data of the document read by the scanner 102 and character separation / photograph portion, image separation data for determining chromatic / achromatic in the document, and a controller. The video is output to the 200 video input units 210.

  The plotter 104 uses, for example, an electrophotographic recording device as the plotter unit 5, receives image data received from a host device (not shown) and image data read by the scanner unit 102 from the plotter control ASIC 105, Record and output images on paper.

  The plotter control ASIC 105 outputs the image data input from the engine ASIC 101 to the plotter 104 in accordance with the synchronization signal from the plotter 104.

  The RAM 106 is a working memory for the engine CPU 108 to execute overall control of the engine 102, and is used by the engine CPU 108 for applications such as a variable storage area during program execution.

  The flash memory 107 is a rewritable nonvolatile memory for storing a program executed by the engine CPU 108.

  The engine CPU 108 uses the RAM 106 as a work memory based on a program in the flash memory 107 to perform overall control of the engine 100 such as scanner control, paper conveyance, image formation on the plotter 104, and fixing.

  The engine ASIC 101 includes a video output unit 111 and a communication buffer 112, and performs data interface between the controller 200 and the engine CPU 108, and between the controller 200 and the plotter control ASIC 105.

  The video output unit 111 reads image data of an image to be output from the main memory 204 of the controller 200, performs mask processing, composition processing, format conversion, and the like, and outputs the image data to the plotter control ASIC 105. The plotter control ASIC 105 outputs the image data to the plotter. In accordance with the output to 104, it is necessary to output a certain amount of image data to the plotter control ASIC 105 within a certain time. That is, the video output unit 111 executes restricted image processing that is restricted by the operation timing.

  The arbiter 110 arbitrates access to the controller CPU 202 from the video output unit 111, the engine-side work area control unit 113, the resolution conversion unit 114, the compression / decompression unit 115, and the like, which are modules in the engine ASIC 101.

  The communication buffer 112 is a buffer area for communication between the engine CPU 108 and the controller CPU 202.

  The resolution conversion unit 114 is a module that performs resolution conversion processing for converting low-resolution image data on the main memory 204 of the controller 200 into image data of the resolution of the plotter 104 during printer operation and facsimile operation. Write data to main memory 204. Since the image processing by the resolution conversion unit 114 transfers image data from the main memory 204 to the main memory 204, the processing time can be widened. That is, the resolution conversion unit 114 is a module that executes unconstrained image processing that is not restricted by the operation timing.

  The compression / decompression unit 115 is a module for compressing and decompressing an image on the main memory 204 in order to reduce an image data area to be secured in the main memory 204, and writes the processed image data on the main memory 204. Since the image processing by the compression / decompression unit 115 is processing for transferring image data from the main memory 204 to the main memory 204, the processing time can be widened. That is, the compression / decompression unit 115 is a module that executes unconstrained image processing that is not restricted by the operation timing.

  The engine-side work area control unit 113 manages work areas used by the resolution conversion unit 114 and the compression / decompression unit 115.

  The controller 200 is a control device that performs overall control of the composite apparatus 1 and execution of various applications. The controller ASIC 201 of the controller 200 transfers image data input from the engine 100 to the main memory 204 and performs image processing during copying. Control of reading / writing to the hard disk 203 is performed.

  The video input unit 210 compresses the image data read by the scanner 102 input from the scanner image processing ASIC 103 and transfers the compressed image data to the main memory 204. In this data transfer process, the video input unit 210 needs to output a certain amount of image data within a certain time in accordance with the image reading speed of the scanner 102. That is, the video input unit 210 executes restricted image processing that is restricted by the operation timing.

  The arbiter 211 arbitrates access to the controller CPU 202 from the video input unit 210, the distribution image processing unit 213, the controller image processing unit 214, and the hard disk I / F 215, which are modules in the controller ASIC 201.

  The controller-side work area control unit 212 manages work areas used by the distribution image processing unit 213 and the controller image processing unit 214.

  The distribution image processing unit 213 is a module that performs image conversion processing in order to distribute the image data on the main memory 204 via the network, and writes back the converted image data to the main memory 204. Since the image processing in the distribution image processing unit 213 is processing for transferring image data from the main memory 204 to the main memory 204, the processing time can be widened. That is, the distribution image processing unit 213 is a module that executes unconstrained image processing that is not restricted by the operation timing.

  The controller image processing unit 214 is a module that expands the compressed image data on the main memory 204 and performs filter processing, color conversion processing, gradation processing, and the like, and writes the processed image data back to the main memory 204. Since the image processing in the controller image processing unit 214 is processing for transferring processed image data from the main memory 204 to the main memory 204, the processing time can be widened. That is, the controller image processing unit 214 is a module that executes unconstrained image processing that is not restricted by the operation timing.

  A hard disk I / F 215 controls read / write to the hard disk 203, and the hard disk 203 is a storage device used for accumulation of various image data and a temporary storage area of the controller CPU 202.

  The controller CPU 202 includes a memory controller and PCI Express and PCI general-purpose interfaces, and executes various applications such as area reservation and read / write control of the main memory 204, image drawing, copying, scanner, facsimile, and distribution of the printer. . In particular, the controller CPU 202 functions as an area securing unit that secures work areas for the modules 114, 115, 213, and 214 in the main memory 204.

  The main memory 204 is a working memory for performing image drawing and various applications executed by the controller CPU 202 from the plotter 104, and is used by the controller CPU 202 for various data temporary storage areas, DMAC descriptor areas, and the like. Is done. In particular, the main memory 204 functions as a storage unit outside the engine ASIC 101 and the controller ASIC 201 that uses the work area secured by the controller CPU 202 by the modules 114, 115, 213, and 214.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the engine-side work area control unit 113 and the controller-side work area control unit 212 include a work area setting unit 301, an area determination unit 302, and the like, as shown in FIG. The side work area control unit 212 has the same configuration.

  The work area setting unit 301 is a module for setting an area that the controller CPU 202 can use as a work area for image processing on the engine 100 side or the controller 200 side in the main memory 204.

  The area determination unit 302 determines whether the work area can be allocated based on the area set in the work area setting unit 301 and the work area signal from each of the modules 114, 115, 213, and 214. If it can, the head address signal of the assigned work area is output.

  These engine-side work area control unit 113 and controller-side work area control unit 212 are modules 114, 115, which are requested to secure an area within the air zone area in the work area of the main memory 204 secured by the controller CPU 202. It functions as module area securing means for securing a work area that is a module use area for 213 and 214.

  Each of the modules 114, 115, 213, and 214 has a normal module configuration. The read DMAC 401 (see FIG. 9) that reads descriptor information and image data from the main memory 204, and the image data read by the read DMAC The image processing unit 402 (see FIG. 9) that performs image processing on the image, the write DMAC 403 (see FIG. 9) and the read DMAC 401 that write back the image data processed by the image processing unit 402 to the main memory 204, the image processing unit 402, and the write DMAC 403 Are provided with a register control unit 404 (see FIG. 9) and the like for performing various settings and status confirmation for the operation.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The copying apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment allocates a work area to the main memory 204 for each of the modules 114, 115, 213, and 214 and allows module processing using the main memory 204.

  First, after storing image data read by the scanner in the multifunction apparatus 1 in the main memory 204, performing necessary image processing in the controller image processing unit 214, and then outputting the image data in the plotter 104, This will be described with reference to FIG.

  In this case, the multifunction apparatus 1 stores the image data read by the scanner 102 in the main memory 204 via the scanner image processing ASIC 103, the arbiter 211, and the controller CPU 202 (a in FIG. 3), and the image on the main memory 204 is stored. The data is sent to the controller image processing unit 214 via the controller CPU 202 and the arbiter 211, and necessary image processing such as filter processing, color conversion processing, and gradation processing is performed by the controller image processing unit 214, and the arbiter 211 and controller CPU 202 Is written back into the main memory 204 (b in FIG. 3). Then, the composite apparatus 1 sends the image data on the main memory 204 to the plotter 104 via the controller CPU 202, the engine arbiter 110, the video output unit 111, and the plotter control ASIC 105, and the plotter 104 prints out the data on the paper (FIG. 3 c).

  Further, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the multifunction apparatus 1 performs necessary image processing on the image data on the main memory 204 to perform distribution processing, facsimile processing, printer processing, and the like.

  That is, when performing the distribution process, the composite apparatus 1 sends the image data on the main memory 204 to the distribution image processing unit 213 via the controller CPU 202 and the arbiter 211, and the distribution image processing unit 213 distributes the image data via the network. The image conversion processing necessary for this is performed and written back to the main memory 204 through the arbiter 211 and the controller CPU 202 (d in FIG. 4). The composite apparatus 1 distributes the image data subjected to the image conversion process on the main memory 204 via a network unit (not shown). Further, when performing the facsimile processing, the multifunction apparatus 1 transfers the image data on the main memory 204 to the resolution conversion unit 114 via the controller CPU 202 and the arbiter 110 of the engine 100, and performs resolution conversion by the resolution conversion unit 114. The data is written back to the main memory 204 via the arbiter 114 and the controller CPU 202, and finally transmitted by facsimile (e in FIG. 4). Further, when performing the printer process, the composite apparatus 1 sends the image data received from the host device (not shown) and stored in the main memory 204 to the compression / decompression unit 115 via the controller CPU 202 and the arbiter 110, and the compression / decompression unit After compression / decompression at 115, the data is written back to the main memory 204 via the arbiter 110 and the controller CPU 202, and finally printed out by the printer 104 (f in FIG. 4).

  3 and 4, the data flow from the scanner 102 to the main memory 204 (a in FIG. 3) and the data flow from the main memory 204 to the plotter 104 (c in FIG. 3) are as follows. This is a restricted image processing in which a certain amount of image data needs to flow within a certain time because the mechanical operation of the scanner 102 and the plotter 104 is involved, but the image data is sent from the main memory 204 to the controller image processing unit 214 and processed. Data flow for returning the image data to the main memory 204 (b in FIG. 3), and data flow for returning the image data after image processing sent from the main memory 204 to the distribution image processing unit 213 to the main memory 204 (d in FIG. 4) The image data sent from the main memory 204 to the resolution conversion unit 114 and the image data after image processing is returned to the main memory 204. The data flow (e in FIG. 4) and the data flow (f in FIG. 4) sent from the main memory 204 to the compression / decompression unit 115 to return the image data after image processing to the main memory 204 are not involved in mechanical operation. This is unconstrained image processing that can provide a wide processing time.

  In the composite apparatus 1, the engine-side work area control unit 113 of the engine 100 and the controller-side work area control unit 212 of the controller 200 manage work areas as follows.

  That is, as illustrated in FIG. 5, in the initial state, the multifunction device 1 includes a resolution conversion unit 114, a compression / decompression unit 115, a distribution image processing unit 213, and a controller image processing unit 214 that are on the main memory 204. Since the work area is not used, “0” is output as the work area size to the work area control units 113 and 212 (step S101). In the initial state, the work area control units 113 and 212 have the modules 114, 115, and 213, respectively. , 214 does not use a work area, “0” is output to each of the modules 114, 115, 213, 214 as a work area address (step S102).

  Each module 114, 115, 213, 214 outputs a necessary work area size on the main memory 204 to the work area control units 113, 212 when starting operation (step S 103), and the work area control unit 113. 212, it is determined whether or not the requested work area size is larger than the entire free area set on the main memory 204 as the current work area (step S104).

  In step S104, if the requested work area size is larger than the total free area currently set as the work area, the work area control units 113 and 212 perform processing unless the work area size is increased. Since it cannot be performed, the requested work area size from the modules 114, 115, 213, 214 is set in the requested work area area register, a work area change request interrupt is output to the controller CPU 202 (step S105), and the controller CPU 202 When there is a work area change request interrupt, the requested work area area registers of the work area control units 113 and 212 are read (step S106), and a new work area area larger than the requested work area area is stored in the main memory 204. To guarantee (step S107).

  When the controller CPU 202 can secure the area in the main memory 204, the controller CPU 202 sets a new work area area in the work area control units 113 and 212 (step S108), and the work area control units 113 and 212 are using the work area ( The sum of the work area size signals from all the modules 114, 115, 213, and 214 is not "0". If the work area is in use, the use of the work area is completed. Wait (step S109).

  When all the work areas are unused (the sum of the work area size signals from all the modules 114, 115, 213, and 214 is "0"), the work area control units 113 and 212 complete the work area change in the controller CPU 202. An interrupt is output (step S110), and it is determined whether there is a free area in the work area (step S111).

  If there is no free space in the work area in step S111, the work area control units 113 and 212 finish the processing of the modules 114, 115, 213, and 214 using the work area, and the work area size “0” is set. Wait until it returns (step S111).

  The work area control units 113 and 212 allocate a work area as a module use area for the modules 114, 115, 213, and 214 when the work area has a free area or a free area is created in step S 111. If the assignment is determined (step S112), the head address of the work area is output to each of the modules 114, 115, 213, and 214.

  When each module 114, 115, 213, 214 receives a work area address other than “0” from the work area control unit 113, 212, the main memory 204 is used as the work memory from that address to perform image processing ( Step S114).

  Upon completion of the image processing, each of the modules 114, 115, 213, and 214 outputs the work area size “0” to the work area control units 113 and 212 (step S116), and the work area control units 113 and 212 When the size becomes “0”, the work areas used by the modules 114, 115, 213, and 214 are released (step S116). When the work area control units 113 and 212 release the work area, the controller CPU 202 sends a release notification to the controller CPU 202. Upon receiving the release notification, the controller CPU 202 receives the release area change. Perform processing such as returning to.

  In step S104, the work area control units 113 and 212 indicate that the requested work area size is smaller than the entire area set as the current work area, and the work required by the modules 114, 115, 213, and 214 is required. Since the area is sufficient, the process proceeds to step S111, and the same process as described above is performed from the process of determining whether or not there is a free area in the work area (steps S111 to S116).

  Next, when the free space of the main memory 204 becomes insufficient during execution of the program, the controller CPU 202 reduces the memory area allocated to the work area and executes the necessary program. Accordingly, a work area area changing process for changing the area of the main memory 204 assigned to the work area by the controller CPU 202 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when it is necessary to use the main memory 204 during execution of the program, the controller CPU 202 checks whether the required work area size is larger than the entire work area (step S201). If the necessary area can be secured, the process ends.

  If the area necessary for program execution cannot be secured in step S201, the controller CPU 202 first secures a new work area area with a reduced area in the main memory 204 (step S202). The start address and size of a new work area are set in the work area setting unit 301 of the area control units 113 and 212 (step S203).

  The work area control units 113 and 212 check whether the work area is being used (the sum of the work area size signals from all modules is not “0”). (Step S204).

  In step S204, when all work areas are unused (the sum of work area size signals from all modules is “0”), the work area control units 113 and 212 output a work area change completion interrupt to the controller CPU 202. When the work area change completion interrupt is received, the controller CPU 202 uses the old work area for other purposes (step S206).

  That is, as shown in FIG. 7A, among the applications that are various processes for realizing the functions of the composite apparatus 1 such as a printer application, a copy application, and a facsimile application, the controller CPU 202 is now shown in FIG. In addition, when executing the application B in the state where the application A is being executed in the main memory 204 and the work area is allocated, it is necessary to execute the application B in the state of FIG. Since there is a free area, as shown in FIG. 7B, memory B is allocated and application B is executed. Furthermore, when the application C is executed in the state of FIG. 7B, the controller CPU 202 reduces the work area as shown in FIG. 7C because there is not enough free space to execute the application C. .

  When the change of the work area of the main memory 204 is completed and a free area that can execute the application C is secured, the controller CPU 202 executes the application C as shown in FIG.

  As described above, the copying apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment allocates work areas that can be used for image processing by the plurality of modules 114, 115, 213, and 214 in the main memory 204 according to the memory usage state of the program. As a result, the utilization efficiency of the main memory 204 can be improved, and an increase in the capacity of the main memory 204 can be suppressed.

  Then, the work area control units 113 and 212 perform work area allocation as shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, hatched portions are used memory areas, and modules Ma and Mb indicate any one of the modules 114, 115, 213, and 214.

  That is, from the initial state, the controller CPU 202 secures an area for a work area of a certain size on the main memory 204 and is set in the work area setting unit 301 of the work area control units 113 and 212 (FIG. 8A )), For example, when a request for allocation of a size smaller than the size of the free area is received from the module Ma (FIG. 8 (a)), the work area control units 113 and 212, for the size requested by the module Ma. Are allocated in the main memory 204, and a work area address is assigned to the module Ma (FIG. 8B).

  In this state, when the module Mb requests to allocate a size smaller than the size of the free area (FIG. 8B), the work area control units 113 and 212 secure the corresponding area in the main memory 204. The work area address is assigned to the module Mb (FIG. 8C).

  Next, when the processing of the module Ma is finished and the work area size from the module Ma becomes “0” (FIG. 8C), the work area control units 113 and 212 have been used for the module Ma until now. The area of the main memory 204 is released (FIG. 8D).

  Further, when the processing of the module Mb is finished and the work area size from the module Mb becomes “0”, the work area control units 113 and 212 release the area (FIG. 8D). Thereafter, the controller CPU 202 changes the area of the work area in order to use the main memory 204 for other purposes (FIG. 8E).

  In this state, when the module Ma requests to allocate a size smaller than the size of the free area, the work area control units 113 and 212 secure the corresponding area in the main memory 204 and assign the work area address to the module Ma. (FIG. 8 (e)) and the module Ma is assigned to the empty area of the main memory 204 (FIG. 8 (f)).

  Next, when an area allocation request is received from the module Mb, the work area control units 113 and 212 wait for the processing of the module Ma to end because there is no free area (FIG. 8 (f)).

  When the processing of the module Ma is completed (FIG. 8 (g)), since there is a free area allocated to the module Mb, the work area control units 113 and 212 secure the corresponding area and assign the work area address to the module Mb. (FIG. 8 (g)) and the module Mb is assigned to the area of the main memory 204 that has been used by the module Ma (FIG. 8 (f)).

  In this state, when the processing of the module Mb is finished and the work area size from the module Mb becomes “0” (FIG. 8H), the work area control units 113 and 212 release the area (FIG. 8). 8 (i)).

  In the image processing using the main memory 204, as shown in FIG. 9, in the input processing of image data from the scanner 102 accompanied by mechanical operation and the output processing of image data to the plotter 104, the main memory In 204, an input image area 204a and an output image area 204b are provided exclusively, and image data input processing and image data output processing accompanied by the mechanical operation are performed using the input image area 204a and the output image area 204b. The intermediate image processing without operation is performed using the intermediate image area 204c secured in the work area of the main memory 204.

  That is, when inputting the image data read by the scanner 102, the multifunction apparatus 1 stores it in the input image area 204a of the main memory 204, and then stores it in this input image area 204a as shown in FIG. 9A. When the transferred image data is transferred to the modules 114, 115, 213, and 214, intermediate image processing is performed in the modules 114, 115, 213, and 214, and then transferred to the main memory 204, Stored in the intermediate image area 204c. In FIG. 9, circuit portions interposed between the modules 114, 115, 213, and 214 and the main memory 204 are not shown.

  When image data stored in the intermediate image area 204c of the main memory 204 is subjected to image processing by the modules 114, 115, 213, and 214 and finally sent to the plotter 104 for output, the image data is shown in FIG. As described above, the image data of the intermediate image area 204c is transferred to the modules 114, 115, 213, and 214, subjected to image processing, and then transferred to the output image area 204b of the main memory 204. The image data is transferred to the plotter 104 and output. Then, the intermediate image area 204c is released when the processing is completed.

  As described above, in the composite apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the plurality of modules 114, 115, 213, and 214 that execute various image processes mounted on the ASICs 101 and 201 are main storage units outside the ASICs 101 and 201. When executing non-restricted image processing that is not restricted by the processing operation timing using the memory 204, that is, the mechanical operation of the scanner 102 or the plotter 104 is not involved, and a certain amount of the processing is performed within a certain time. When executing processing that does not require image data to flow, a request that the work area control units 113 and 212 individually use in the work area of the main memory 204 secured by the controller CPU 202 is used by the modules 114, 115, 213, and 214. Secure a work area (module use area) within the scope of the work area, Yuru 114,115,213,214 is running the image processing using the request work area.

  Therefore, the cost of the ASICs 101 and 201 can be reduced and the processing efficiency can be improved.

  Further, in the copying apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the work area control units 113 and 212 allocate individual request work areas used by the modules 114, 115, 213, and 214 within the work area set by the controller CPU 202. Thus, the frequency of area management by the controller CPU 202 can be reduced, and the load on the controller CPU 202 can be reduced.

  Further, in the copying apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the controller CPU 202 prepares a requested work area that is a module use area requested by the work area control units 113 and 212 individually from the modules 114, 115, 213, and 214. When it is larger than the free area of the work area, the controller CPU 202 is requested to secure expansion of the work area necessary for securing the requested work area.

  Therefore, unconstrained image processing that is not restricted by the processing operation timing can be reliably executed by using the main memory 204, the cost of the ASICs 101 and 201 can be reduced, and the processing efficiency can be improved. be able to.

  In the copying apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the work area control units 113 and 212 request the controller CPU 202 to secure expansion of a requested work area, which is a module use area individually requested from the modules 114, 115, 213, and 214. Then, when processing using the work areas of all the modules 114, 115, 213, and 214 is completed, the controller CPU 202 is notified of the processing completion notification.

  Therefore, while restraining the load on the controller CPU 202, it is possible to optimize the use of the main memory 204 by eliminating the restriction on the timing when the main memory 204 changes the work area, thereby improving the usability. .

  Furthermore, the copying apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment can perform constrained image processing (for example, image data input processing using the scanner 102 or image data input to the printer 104) that is restricted by the processing operation timing of the modules 114, 115, 213, and 214. The input image area 204a and the output image area 204b, which are restricted image processing areas for the output processing), are fixedly secured in the main memory 204, and the work area control units 113 and 212 are modules 114, 115, 213, and 214. When there is a request for securing the input image area 204a and the output image area 204b, the input image area 204a and the output image area 204b are secured.

  Therefore, a significant increase in the number of gates of the ASICs 101 and 201 can be suppressed and the cost of the ASICs 101 and 201 can be reduced without adding a DMAC for unconstrained image processing that is not restricted by processing operation timing.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.

  The present invention can be used in an image processing apparatus and an image processing method such as a printer apparatus, a copying apparatus, and a composite apparatus that perform image processing efficiently and appropriately using an integrated circuit such as an ASIC equipped with a small amount of memory.

The principal part block block diagram of the compound apparatus to which one Example of this invention is applied. The principal part block block diagram of the work area control part of FIG. The figure which shows the flow of the image data at the time of the input of FIG. The figure which shows the flow of the image data at the time of the intermediate process of FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a work area management process of the main memory by the composite apparatus of FIG. The flowchart which shows the work area area | region change process of the main memory by the controller CPU of FIG. Explanatory drawing of the work area area | region change process of the main memory by controller CPU. Explanatory drawing of the work area allocation process by the work area control part of FIG. Explanatory drawing of the flow of image data when the area | region only for an input image and an output image is provided in the main memory.

Explanation of symbols

1 Compound device 100 Engine 101 Engine ASIC
102 Scanner 103 Scanner Image Processing ASIC
104 Plotter 105 Plotter control ASIC
106 RAM
107 Flash memory 108 Engine CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 110 Arbiter 111 Video output part 112 Communication buffer 113 Engine side work area control part 114 Resolution conversion part 115 Compression / decompression part 200 Controller 201 Controller ASIC
202 Controller CPU
203 Hard Disk 204 Main Memory 210 Video Input Unit 211 Arbiter 212 Controller-side Work Area Control Unit 213 Distribution Image Processing Unit 214 Controller Image Processing Unit 215 Hard Disk I / F
301 Work Area Setting Unit 302 Area Determination Unit 401 Read DMAC
402 Image processing unit 403 Write DMAC
404 Register controller

Claims (5)

  An integrated circuit on which a plurality of image processing modules for executing various image processing are mounted; storage means outside the integrated circuit; area securing means for securing a usable work area of the image processing module in the storage means; A module area securing means for securing a module use area that is individually used by the image processing module in a work area secured by the area securing means, and the image processing module is not restricted by its processing operation timing. When executing the processing, the module area securing unit requests the module area securing unit, and the module area securing unit makes a module use area for the image processing module within the work area within the work area of the storage unit. And the image processing module executes the image processing using the module usage area. An image processing device.   When the module use area individually requested from the image processing module is larger than the free area of the work area, the module area securing unit is configured to provide the work area necessary for securing the module use area to the area securing unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus requests to ensure expansion of the area.   The module area securing means notifies the area securing means of the completion of processing using the work areas of all the modules after requesting the area securing means to expand the work area. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:   The area securing means secures a restricted image processing area for restricted image processing that is restricted by processing operation timing of the image processing module in the storage means, and the module area securing means includes the image processing module. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the restricted image processing area is secured when an area securing request for the restricted image processing area is issued.   An image processing method in which a plurality of image processing modules that are mounted on an integrated circuit and perform various types of image processing perform image processing using storage means outside the integrated circuit, wherein the storage means uses the image processing module. An area securing processing step for securing a possible work area; an area securing request processing step for generating a request for securing an area when the image processing module executes unconstrained image processing that is not restricted by the processing operation timing; In response to the area securing request, module area securing that secures module use areas individually used by the image processing module within the work area within the work area of the storage means secured in the area securing processing step. An image processing method comprising: processing steps.

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