JPH04351164A - Picture processing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To add information to specify a copying machine to a copying matter by adding a specific pattern hardly identified by human eyes to the matter. CONSTITUTION:An area sequential signal CNO is inputted to a discrimination circuit 409 and a criterion is sequentially selected as to each read operation and used for discrimination for a different specific original. Moreover, a pattern addition circuit 410 adds a pattern hardly identified by human eyes to a copy picture in response to a pattern level selection signal PS in 2-bit designated by a CPU 414. That is, the discrimination circuit 409 stores specific picture information in advance to discriminate the similarity between an inputted full color picture signal and the specific picture information and the CPU 414 controls the addition condition of the specific pattern stored in advance in a register in the pattern addition circuit 410 according to the result of the discrimination and the pattern addition circuit 410 adds or does not add the specific pattern to a full color picture signal according to the addition condition and the result is outputted.

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, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus having a function of adding a specific pattern to a reproduced image.

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventionally, as the image quality and color of copying machines have increased, specific manuscripts that should not be copied (for example, securities and banknotes) have been copied with such high image quality that they are almost indistinguishable from the actual copies. There is a risk that it will be misused. Therefore, various methods have been proposed for recognizing a specific document in a copying apparatus.

0003

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, it is almost impossible to identify by which device the copy was made or to limit the person who made the copy. It was hot.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional examples, and its object is to provide an image processing device that can add information identifying a copying device to a copy. .

[0005]

[Means for solving the problem] Solving the above problems,
In order to achieve the object, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention electrically processes a full-color image signal, and includes a storage means for storing specific image information in advance, and an input full-color image signal and the storage means. a determining means for determining the degree of similarity with specific image information stored in the image information, a control means for controlling additional conditions of a specific pattern according to the determination result of the determining means, and processing the full color image signal according to the controlled additional conditions. It is characterized by comprising a processing means for.

[0006]

[Operation] According to this configuration, the storage means stores specific image information in advance, the determination means determines the degree of similarity between the input full-color image signal and the specific image information stored in the storage means, and the control means Additional conditions for a specific pattern are controlled according to the determination result of the determination means, and the processing means processes the full-color image signal according to the controlled additional conditions.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0008] In the following embodiments, a copying machine is shown as an example of application of the present invention, but the present invention is of course not limited to this and can be applied to various other devices.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the structure of a copying machine which is a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, 201 is an image scanner section, and 400d
This is the part that reads the original at a resolution of pi (dots/inch) and performs digital signal processing. Also, 202
is a printer unit, which prints an image corresponding to the original image read by the image scanner 201 at 400 dpi.
This is the part that prints out in full color on paper at the resolution of .

In the image scanner section 201, 20
0 is a mirror pressure plate, and document table glass (hereinafter referred to as platen) 2
The original 204 on 03 is illuminated by a lamp 205, guided by mirrors 206, 207, and 208, and focused by a lens 209 onto a 3-line sensor (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 210, which displays full color information. The signals are sent to the signal processing unit 211 as green (G) and blue (B) components. Note that 205 and 206 are mechanically moved at a speed of v, and 207 and 208 are moved at a speed of 1/2v in a direction perpendicular to the electrical scanning (main scanning) direction of the line sensor, so that the front surface of the document is scanned ( sub-scan).

In the signal processing section 211, the read image signal is electrically processed and separated into magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (BK) components, and then sent to the printer section. Send to 202. Also, for each document scan by the image scanner 201, M, C, Y
, BK is sent to the printer unit 202, and one printout is completed by scanning the document four times in total.

M, C, Y, and BK image signals sent from the image scanner section 201 are sent to a laser driver 212. The laser driver 212 modulates and drives the semiconductor laser 213 according to the sent image signal. The laser beam scans the photosensitive drum 217 via a polygon mirror 214, an f-theta lens 215, and a mirror 216.

Reference numeral 218 denotes a rotary developing device, which includes a magenta developing section 219, a cyan developing section 220, and a yellow developing section 221.
, and a black developing section 222, the developing sections alternately contact the photosensitive drum 217 and develop the electrostatic image formed on the photosensitive drum with toner. Reference numeral 223 is a transfer drum, which winds the paper supplied from the paper cassette 224 or 225 around this drum 223, and transfers the image developed on the photosensitive drum onto the paper.

After the four colors M, C, Y, and BK have been sequentially transferred in this manner, the paper passes through the fixing unit 226, and after the toner is fixed on the paper, it is discharged.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image scanner section 201 according to a first embodiment. In the same figure, 210-1, 210-2, and 210-3 are each
It is a CCD (solid-state image sensor) sensor with red (R), green (G), and blue (B) spectral sensitivity characteristics.
After /D conversion, 8-bit output signals 0 to 255 are output.

Sensor 2 used in the first embodiment
10-1, 210-2, and 210-3 are arranged at a certain distance, so delay elements 401 and
02, the spatial deviation is corrected. 403,4
04,405 is a log converter,
It is composed of a table ROM or RAM and converts a luminance signal into a density signal. 406 is a known masking U
This is a CR (undercolor removal) circuit, and although detailed explanation will be omitted, it uses three input signals to select magenta (Magenta) for output.
), cyan (c), yellow (Y), black (BK)
Each signal is output in a predetermined bit length, for example, 8 bits, in a field-sequential manner each time a reading operation is performed.

A spatial filter circuit 407 corrects the spatial frequency of the output signal. 408 is a density conversion circuit that corrects the density characteristics of the printer unit 202, and is a ROM similar to the log converters 403 to 405.
Or it is composed of RAM. On the other hand, 414 is a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as "CPU") that controls this apparatus, 413 is an input/output port (hereinafter referred to as "I/O port") connected to CPU 414, and 409 is a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as "I/O port") that controls the device. This is a judgment circuit that makes a judgment.

Here, the specific original determination circuit 409 determines the possibility that at least one of the plurality of specific originals is being read, and outputs a determination signal H in multivalued 2-bit form. In other words, if there is a strong possibility that at least one of multiple specific manuscripts is being read,
H="3" is output, and when the possibility is least, H="0" is output.

The CNO signal is a 2-bit field-sequential signal, and is a control signal that indicates the order of four reading operations as shown in Table 1. The operating conditions of the UCR circuit 406 are switched.

That is, when the CNO signal switches to 0, 1, 2, 3, the print output changes to magenta (M
), cyan (C), yellow (Y), black (BK)
becomes.

Furthermore, the above-described frame sequential signal CNO is also input to the determination circuit 409, and the determination criteria can be switched for each of the four reading operations to perform determination on a different specific document.

410 is a pattern adding circuit, and the CPU
414 is a specified 2-bit pattern level selection signal P
This is a portion that adds a pattern that is difficult for the human eye to discern to the copied image in accordance with S.

FIG. 12 is a front view showing the external appearance of the operating section in the first embodiment. In the figure, numeral 1201 is a numeric keypad, which is used to set the number of copies and to set various modes. An asterisk (*) key 1202 is used in conjunction with the numeric keypad 1201 to set various modes. A liquid crystal touch panel 1203 serves as both a display section and an input section. A copy start key 1204 is used to start a copying operation. Reference numeral 1205 is an image repeat key, which is used when specifying an image repeat function to be described later.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the display state of the liquid crystal touch panel 1203 when the power is turned on according to the first embodiment. The number of copies is specified using the numeric keypad 1201,
The specified number of copies is displayed in the upper right corner of the display screen. In the figure, one sheet is displayed because it is in the initial state.

Since the image repeat function is well known, a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted and only an outline will be described.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the image repeat function according to the first embodiment. By specifying the image repeat function for a document 1301, 1
For one output paper like the output paper shown in 302,
Images read from a document can be repeatedly output multiple times. In the figure, the letter A is taken as an example.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the display state of the liquid crystal touch panel 1203 when using the image repeat function according to the first embodiment.

When specifying the image repeat function, first press the image repeat key 1205. When the image repeat key 1205 is pressed, the liquid crystal touch panel 1203 is displayed as shown in FIG. Next, set the number of repetitions by image repeat to 1220.
The value can be specified by increasing or decreasing using the up key shown by 1221 or the down key shown by 1221, or automatically specified by using the auto key shown by 1222. Finally, in order to confirm the completion of the settings, the end key indicated by 1223 is pressed to complete the settings.

In the first embodiment, there is a pattern addition mode in which an invisible pattern is added to the copy output (copy) in order to limit the device used for copying or the person who made the copy; There is a pattern addition prohibition mode that does not add patterns. In the first embodiment, the pattern addition mode is selected when the power is turned on, and most copies are normally made in this mode. here,
The pattern addition prohibition mode can be specified using the numeric keypad 1201 and the asterisk key 1202. For example, the user in turn, [*] [2]
By inputting [0][4][2][9][*], you can enter the pattern addition prohibition mode. This key input sequence is not disclosed to general users, but only to market service personnel or specific operators. Further, in the pattern addition prohibition mode, the following usage restrictions or measures are taken instead of adding a pattern to the copy output (copy) to limit the device or user. That is, (1) In the pattern addition prohibition mode, the number of copies is limited to one. In other words, it is possible to prevent manuscripts that should not originally be copied from being copied in large quantities and misused.

(2) In the pattern addition prohibition mode, the image repeat function is further prohibited. That is, similarly to (1), it is possible to prevent manuscripts that should not originally be copied from being copied in large quantities and misused.

(3) Simultaneously with the completion of copying in the pattern addition prohibition mode, the mode returns to the pattern addition mode. That is,
To prevent an apparatus from being left in a pattern addition prohibition mode and from being misused by unspecified users by making a large number of copies of originals that should not originally be copied.

(4) In the pattern addition prohibition mode, the usage date is retained in the main body of the device. Furthermore, for devices that require an ID card to be inserted into the device to limit the number of users, or devices that require the input of the user's ID number, the user's ID number etc. may be stored in a non-volatile memory on the device itself. hold in memory. In other words, if a copy is misused, all the information stored in the device can be recovered.
Users can be limited to some extent.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing the timing of signals in the main scanning direction in the first embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the determination circuit 409 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 6, the VSYNC signal is a sub-scanning section signal, and is a signal indicating the sub-scanning image output section. HSYNC is a main scanning synchronization signal, and is a signal for synchronizing the start of main scanning. CLK is an image transfer clock and is a basic clock for various image processing in the first embodiment.

On the other hand, CLK' is a signal obtained by dividing the CLK signal by 1/4, and serves as a basic clock in the determination circuit 409. The SEL signal is a timing signal used in the above-described thinning circuit 301, and is shown in FIG. 4(b).
It is generated by a frequency divider circuit as shown in . That is, after the inverter 451 and 2-bit counter 452 are cleared (initialized) by the HSYNC signal, which is the main scanning synchronization signal, they count the CLK signal and output the count value in 2 bits (D0, D1). . The upper bit D1 is C
The LK' signal is output, and the AND of the inverted signal of the lower bit D0 and the upper bit D1 is output as the SEL signal.

As a result, in the thinning circuit shown in FIG.
2, 463, selector 458, 459, 460, CLK
'A flip-flop 464 that holds data on the signal;
6 by the thinning circuit composed of 465 and 466.
As shown in , the R (or G
, B) The signal is thinned out at a rate of 1/4, and the CLK
An R' (or G', B') signal synchronized with signal 4 can be obtained.

FIG. 3 shows a determination circuit 409 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. In the same figure, 301
is a thinning circuit shown in FIG. 4, which thins out data in order to reduce the need for additional processing circuits in the determination circuit. Reference numeral 302 denotes a color matching table ROM (read-only memory), which performs color matching with a plurality of types of specific originals.

The color distribution of 32 types of specific documents is checked in advance, and the results of determination as to whether the color of the pixel matches the color of those specific documents are stored.

That is, the CNO signal, which is a frame sequential signal, is input to the ROM 302 in the upper 2 bits of the address, and the upper 5 bits of the thinned out RGB color image signals are input in the lower 15 bits. Value of each side sequential signal CNO is 0
- 3, whether or not the color of the pixel matches the color of 8 types of specific originals is simultaneously output in correspondence with 8-bit data, and a total of 32 types of specific originals are output in 4 reading scans. A determination is made regarding the

303-1, 303-2,..., 303-8
are color judgment circuits each composed of the same hardware, including an integrator 306, registers 307, 308, and 3.
09 and a comparator module 310, each of which determines the possibility that a specific document exists in a document using two bits. 309 is a maximum value circuit, and the color judgment circuit 30
The maximum value of the determination result outputs 3-1 to 303-8 is output. That is, the determination result for the one with the greatest possibility of existing among the eight types of specific originals is output.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the integrator 306 according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of input and output of the integrator 306 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 5, 501 and 505 are flip-flops that hold data at the rising timing of the CLK' signal. 502 is a multiplier that receives two 8-bit input signals (
A, B) is input, and the multiplier outputs an 8-bit signal (A
B/255) is output. 503 is also a multiplier, which inputs a 1-bit input signal (A) and an 8-bit input signal (B), and outputs an 8-bit output signal (A×B) as a multiplier. 504 is an adder which inputs two 8-bit input signals (A, B) and outputs an 8-bit signal (A+B) as the addition result.

As a result, in this integrator, the 8-bit output signal yi for the binary input signal xi is expressed by the following equation (1). That is,

[0042]

[Equation 1] Here, α and β are constants set in advance,
The magnitude of these values determines various characteristics of the integrator.

For example, in the case of α=247 and β=8, in FIG. 7 showing an example of the input and output of this integrator, (a)
In response to an input xi-1 as shown in (b), an output yi as shown in (b) is output.

Here, inputs such as points 701 and 702 that are "1" even though the surrounding area is mostly "0", or inputs that are "1" even though the surrounding area is mostly "0", such as point 703, An input that is “0” even though it exists is considered to be noise. This is processed by an integrator, and 704 (R1), 704' (R2), 70
Noise can be removed by setting an appropriate threshold, such as a level of 4'' (R3), and binarizing the output y1 of the integrator.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of comparator module 310 according to the first embodiment. In the figure, 801, 802 and 803 are comparators, 804 is an inverter, 805 is an AND gate, and 806 and 807 are OR gates, respectively. In advance, register 307 contains R.
1. R2 in register 308, R3 in register 803
A value is set, and there is a relationship of R1>R2>R3. With this configuration, as a result, the determination result is quantized into 2 bits and output. That is, if R1<(input), OUT=
“11” is output, if R2<(input)≦R1, OUT=“10” is output, and if R3<(input)≦R2, OUT=“01” is output,
If (input)≦R3, OUT="
00'' is output.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the structure of the pattern adding circuit 410 according to the first embodiment. In the figure, 901 is a sub-scanning counter, 902 is a main-scanning counter,
903 is a Luzkup Table ROM (hereinafter referred to as "LU").
905 is a flip-flop, 913 is an AND gate, 906, 907, 908, and 909 are registers, 910 is a 4 to 1 selector, 911 is an AND gate, 912 is an adder, and 914 is an inverter. ing.

Here, the sub-scanning counter 901 repeatedly counts the main-scanning synchronizing signal HSYNC, and the main-scanning counter 902 repeatedly counts the pixel synchronizing signal CLK, each having a width of 9 bits, that is, 512 cycles. Further, the LUT 903 receives the lower 6 bits of the read-only memory (hereinafter referred to as ROM) count value in which the pattern to be added is held. Only one bit of the output of the LUT 903 is referenced, and an AND gate 904 performs AND with the upper three bits of the main scanning counter 901 and sub-scanning counter 902, and a flip-flop 905 synchronizes with the CLK signal. is logically multiplied with both 2-bit field sequential signals CNO=0 and CNO=1 at AND gate 913, and then sent to AND gate 911. This signal is valid only when CNO=2, that is, when yellow is currently being printed. On the other hand, register 90
6,907, 908, and 909 respectively have P1 in advance.
, P2, P3, and P4 are held, and P
1 to P4 is selected and AND gate 9
11, an adder 912 adds a pattern to the input signal V and outputs V'. Therefore, CNO=3
, that is, when currently printed in yellow, R
The pattern held in the OM 903 is repeatedly read out and added to the signal to be output.

Here, in the case of pattern addition mode,
It is set so that P1<P2<P3<P4, and the selector 910 is set such that when s=00 (binary number), Y=A, when s=01 (binary number), Y=B, and s=10( binary number)
Since it is set so that when Y=C, s=11 (binary number), Y=D, when PS=00 (binary number), V'=V+P1, PS=
01 (binary number), V'=V+P2, PS=10(
When PS=11 (binary number), the pattern is added so that V'=V+P4.

[0049] Here, the added pattern is added using only yellow toner so that it is difficult for the human eye to distinguish it. It takes advantage of his weak abilities. Furthermore, by varying the level of the added pattern depending on the possibility that a specific document exists in the input image,
In a normal copy, the pattern is made almost indistinguishable to the human eye, and the more likely it is that a specific document exists, the more clearly the pattern is added.

Furthermore, in the pattern addition prohibition mode, P
1, P2, P3, and P4 are all set to "0" and no pattern is added.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the copying result in the first embodiment. In the figure, the pattern 1001 is added, and the contents held in the ROM 903 are added. In the example shown in FIG.
The pattern is 64 pixels x 64 pixels so that it is difficult for the human eye to distinguish the character strings "ABCD" and "1234" in two rows.
It is added in a pixel pattern and is repeated every 512 pixels in the main scan and 512 lines in the sub scan. Therefore, by using a serial number unique to the machine or an encoded version of the serial number, the copying device can be identified by identifying the copy.

Furthermore, if there is a high possibility that there is a specific document in the read image that should not be copied,
A tight pattern can also be added.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the pitch at which the pattern is added is 512 pixels (or line) in the main scanning direction.
However, in the first embodiment, the resolution is 400 dpi (d
ots/inch), so it is approximately 32.5
A pattern will be added every mm. On the other hand, the width of the banknote (Bank of Japan note), which is a specific manuscript, in the transverse direction is approximately 76 mm.
mm, and the width of banknotes in major countries in the width direction is also
Since it is approximately between about 60 mm and 120 mm, this pattern will always be added to the inside of the copied banknote when the banknote is copied. Therefore, if
Even if only a portion of a banknote is cut out and misused, the number of the copying machine used for copying can be determined by identifying the copy and reading the added pattern.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure for setting the pattern level selection signal PS according to the first embodiment. Note that this procedure is controlled by the CPU 414. First, immediately after copying starts, step 1102
At this point, the pattern level selection signal PS is set to "0". Next, in step 1103, the current judgment level H and the value of PS are compared, and if H is larger, the value of H is set in PS in step 1104. Otherwise, the process returns to step 1103. That is, the judgment signal H
Based on the history, the maximum value from the start of copying to the present is set in PS.

As explained above, according to the first embodiment, a specific pattern that is difficult to discern with the human eye is added to the copy as a method for limiting the device. Specific documents that should not be printed (e.g. banknotes)
If a copy is made, it can be used as a means of limiting the copied device. Furthermore, by repeatedly adding the specific pattern at a pitch shorter than the width of the banknote, even if a part of the copy is cut out and misused, the specific pattern will always be added to the copy. By identifying this, it is possible to identify or narrow down the device that made the copy or the person who made the copy.

Furthermore, the degree of similarity between the read image and a pre-registered specific pattern is detected, and if the degree of similarity is large, it is determined that there is a strong possibility that the specific document will be copied, and a pattern to be added is identified. For ease of use, the strength of the pattern is strengthened, and when the degree of similarity is small, the strength of the pattern is weakened or not added, so that the normal copy image quality is not impaired.

Now, the present invention is not limited to the first embodiment described above. For example, in the first embodiment, the specific pattern to be added is the device's unique serial number or an encoded version of this, but this is not limiting as long as the information is used to limit the device. do not have.

For example, the information may be information for limiting the device, such as the manufacturing date of the device, the lot number of the device, and the version of the device.

Now, in the first and second embodiments described above, the device that made the copy was limited, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may also be limited to the person who made the copy. .

[0060] For example, devices that require the insertion of an ID (identification) card to limit the number of users and devices that require the input of an ID number are already known. In these devices, a recognized ID number or an encoded version thereof may be added as a specific pattern.

[0061] Furthermore, the date of copying or an encoded version thereof may be added as a specific pattern.

Next, a modification of the above embodiment will be explained.

<Modification> This modification is an example in which the image scanner section 201 of the above-mentioned embodiment is modified.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image scanner section according to a modification of the first embodiment. Note that components similar to those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same numbers, and description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 16, 2411 is a pattern generation circuit;
Reference numeral 13 indicates an I/O, 2414 a CPU of a modified example, and 2410 an AND gate.

In operation, the 8-bit output V of the density conversion circuit 408 is logically ANDed with the judgment signal H which is the output of the judgment circuit 409, and V' is output. As a result, when the determination signal H=1, that is, when it is determined that a specific document is being read, the pattern generation circuit 2411 (described later) is turned on, and the output is V regardless of the value of the input signal V. '=FF(255),
When the determination signal H=0, that is, when it is determined that the specific document has not been read, the pattern generation circuit 2411, which will be described later, is turned on and the value of the input signal V is output as is as the output signal V'. Also, the judgment signal H=2
In other words, when there is a possibility that a specific document is being read, a pattern generation circuit 2411 (described later) generates a specific 2-bit pattern signal and sends it to the AND gate 410 along with the determination signal H. , a certain pattern signal and the input signal V are combined to form an output signal V'.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating the processing results by the pattern generation circuit 2441.

(1) in the figure shows a case where a specific original is read. 801 is a specific image 80 that becomes a specific original
3 is shown. Original 801 with copy instructions
When read by the device, an output image shown at 802 is obtained. This output image 802 includes a specific image 8.
A specific area 804 corresponding to position 03 is masked. That is, the specific area 804 is filled with magenta (M) when CNO=0, cyan (C) when CNO=1, and yellow (Y) when CNO=2, for example. As a result, the specific area 804 is not correctly copied, and the original specific image 803 is reproduced in an unrecognizable state.

Further, (2) in FIG. 17 shows an example in which a specific document is read.

In this case, the output signal H=2 is output from the determination circuit 409, and the pattern generation circuit 2411 outputs the output signal H=2.
A certain pattern signal is generated and output. In this pattern, as shown in FIG. 17(2), information such as the machine number of the machine, the date and time of use of the machine, etc., is printed on the entire document at certain regular intervals. At that time, printing is done in Y color, so even if the above information is printed due to a misjudgment even though there is no specific image in the document, the user will not be able to notice the image deterioration, and the output image will be There are no problems in using it. In addition, if it is a specific manuscript and its output hard copy is used for the role played by the specific manuscript,
It becomes possible to identify the model used from the pattern printed in Y color.

[0070] Here, the concept of a specific manuscript can refer to the manuscript itself such as banknotes or securities, or it can refer to a combination of manuscripts such as banknotes or securities with other manuscripts. , both concepts are applied in the present invention. For example, in the example of FIG. 17, 801 is the specific original, but 803 may be the specific original.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment described above, an example was shown in which the determination of a specific document was applied to the image scanner section, but the present invention is not limited to this. , a configuration for determining a specific document may be provided in an independent image processing device.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 2901 is an image scanner, 2902 is a video tape recorder (hereinafter referred to as "VTR"), 2903 is a still video camera (hereinafter referred to as "SVC"), and 2904 is the specific document determination function and frame memory of this embodiment. The image processing device 2905 provided is an image output device such as a facsimile or a printer. In this embodiment, as an example, the input devices include an image scanner 2901, a VTR 2902, and an SVC.
2903, but there are other host computers and the like, and the computer is not limited to these.

The configuration of the image processing device 2904 will now be described. The image processing device 2904 includes the determination circuit 409 and the pattern generation circuit 2411 described in the modification of the first embodiment in order to obtain a specific document determination function. The operation of specific document determination is the same as that of the modification of the first embodiment, so detailed explanation will be omitted.

In operation, the image processing device 2904 uses an image scanner 2901, a VTR 2902, an SVC 29
When an image signal is input from 03, the frame memory is used to sequentially determine a specific document, and the image output device 290
Output to 5.

[0075] In this way, by independently providing an image processing device for determining a specific original, it is possible to prevent communication and output of a specific original as a communication system, for example.

Now, in the second embodiment, the image output device 905 is equipped with a judgment circuit and a pattern generation circuit, and judgment is made based on print signals Y, M, C, BK, Y, M, C, or R, G, B. , by outputting according to the result, it can be determined for any input, and
Image deterioration at the time of erroneous determination can be reduced.

Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the determination signal H
is set to 3 bits from 0 to 2, but by increasing the number of bits,
It is also possible to change the density of the additional pattern (add-on information) according to the determination rate, that is, the probability of existence of a specific document.

The present invention may be applied to a system made up of a plurality of devices, or to a device made up of one device. It goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to cases where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or device.

[0079]

As explained above, according to the present invention, a specific pattern that is difficult to discern with the human eye is added to the copy as a method for limiting the device, thereby making it possible to prevent the copy from being originally copied. If a specific document (for example, a banknote) that should not be copied is copied, this can be used as a clue to limit the device that made the copy. Furthermore, by repeatedly adding the specific pattern at a pitch shorter than the width of the banknote, even if a part of the copy is cut out and misused, the specific pattern will always be added to the copy. By identifying this, it is possible to identify or narrow down the device that made the copy or the person who made the copy.

Furthermore, the degree of similarity between the read image and a pre-registered specific pattern is detected, and if the degree of similarity is large, it is determined that there is a strong possibility that the specific document will be copied, and a pattern to be added is identified. For ease of use, the strength of the pattern is strengthened, and when the degree of similarity is small, the strength of the pattern is weakened or not added, so that the normal copy image quality is not impaired.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1: Image scanner section 201 according to the first embodiment.
FIG.

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a copying machine that is a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a determination circuit 409 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of a determination circuit 409 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an integrator 306 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing the timing of signals in the main scanning direction in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of input and output of the integrator 306 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a comparator module 310 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a pattern adding circuit 410 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a copy result in the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for setting a pattern level selection signal PS according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a front view showing the appearance of the operating section in the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the display state of the liquid crystal touch panel 1203 when the power is turned on according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the display state of the liquid crystal touch panel 1203 when using the image repeat function according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of an image repeat function according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image scanner section according to a modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating processing results by the pattern generation circuit 2441.

FIG. 18 is a configuration diagram showing a system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

200 Mirror pressure plate 201 Image scanner section 202 Printer section 203 Platen 204 Original 205 Lamps 206 to 208 Mirror 209 Lens 210 3 line sensors 210-1 to 210-3 CCD sensor 211 Signal processing section 212 Laser driver 213 Semiconductor laser 214 Polygon mirror 215 f-theta lens 216 Mirror 217 Photosensitive drum 218 Rotating developer 219 Magenta developing section 220 Cyan developing section 221 Yellow developing section 222 Black developing section 223 Transfer drums 224, 225 Paper cassette 226 Fixing unit 301 Thinning circuit 302 LUT 303-1 to 303 -8 Tint judgment circuit 310 306 Integrator 308 Comparator modules 401, 402 Delays 403 to 405 Log conversion circuit 406 Masking/UCR circuit 407 Spatial filter 408 Density conversion circuit 409 Judgment circuit 410 Pattern addition circuit 413 I/O 414 CPU

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An image processing device that electrically processes a full-color image signal, comprising a storage means for storing specific image information in advance, and a similarity between an input full-color image signal and the specific image information stored in the storage means. a control means for controlling additional conditions of a specific pattern according to a determination result of the determination means; and a processing means for processing the full-color image signal according to the controlled additional conditions. image processing device. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means controls the level of density as an addition condition for the specific pattern in accordance with the level of the degree of similarity. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the additional conditions include a condition for not adding the specific pattern. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the specific pattern is information unique to the apparatus. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the specific pattern has a yellow color component. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing means includes an adding means that repeatedly adds the specific pattern at a constant period. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing means includes a mode in which the specific pattern is added and a mode in which the specific pattern is not added.