JPS62222372A - Image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus having a function of cutting out a desired area.

<Prior art> Area extraction refers to image processing using a computer, in which the above-mentioned area is extracted from an image for the purpose of performing various processing such as color change, copying, movement conversion, rotation, etc. on a specific part (area) in the image. This refers to extracting a specific part, and various area extraction methods have been proposed in the past, some of which have been put into practical use.

The present inventor recently proposed the following image processing apparatus for performing such area cutting.

This image processing device includes an image memory that stores the characteristic level of each pixel of the original image to be processed, a display that displays the image based on the data stored in the image memory, and a desired threshold value regarding the characteristic level. a threshold value input means for inputting the threshold value input means; A look-up table memory is provided for converting characteristic level signals into display or non-display signals according to the comparison table, and the characteristic level signals of six pixels of the original image are sequentially supplied from the image memory to the look-up table memory for display or non-display. The converted pixels are converted into non-display signals, and the converted signals from the look-up table memory are sequentially input to a display to display images sequentially extracted from the converted pixels.

This image processing device attaches to an image memory color-separated into, for example, R (red), G (green), and B (blue), and processes r+, rt: g+ + gz: h+,
By setting two thresholds for each of the three bt colors and setting the lookup table to brighten only the range between each threshold, all flGB color information is included within the threshold. The image area to be captured is displayed on the display, for example, in white, and the target area within the displayed white area is specified using the coordinate input means, and the cropping process is performed. In addition to being able to confirm in white whether a shape has been cut out, and setting the threshold value to the optimum value interactively, complex shapes can also be easily cut out because color thresholds are used for cutting out. As an example, in Figure 3(a)
Original picture of a red apple, Figure 3 (an example of setting the threshold appropriately and displaying the red area in white, Figure 3 (C) shows how one of them is selected using the coordinate input means) show.

<Problem to be solved by the invention> However, with this conventional method, if the color of the edge of the target area to be extracted is the same as the background color, no matter how high the threshold value is set, The target area to be extracted cannot be separated from the background. An example is shown in FIG. 3(d). In Figure 3(d), there is a red line running through the background of the red apple. If the red color of this background is the same as the red color of the apple, there is a problem in that it is not possible to set a threshold regarding color information and separate the apple from the background.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily cut out a target area even if the target area to be cut out and the pond area have the same color and are connected to each other.

<Means for Solving the Problems> In order to achieve the above object, the image processing device of the present invention uses density information of each pixel constituting an image, label information for classifying regions, and line information. and a look-up table memory that converts and outputs the output information of the dual-purpose memory, a display means that displays an image based on the output information of the look-up table memory, and j7 threshold input means for inputting a desired threshold value regarding information; coordinate input means for inputting predetermined coordinates in an image; memory setting means for writing or erasing the label information and line information by setting whether to store the label information and line information; the threshold value input from the threshold input means; the density information; Lookup table setting means for setting the contents of the lookup table memory based on the label information and the line information; I want to display the area determined by the threshold value entered from the threshold input means in a specific color on the display means by converting it using the up-table memory, and then cut out the area displayed in the above specific color. If the target area is connected to another area, use the coordinate input means to input a line that separates the target area from the other area, and then use the line information to separate the connected target area from the other area. The present invention is characterized in that the separated target area is selected using coordinate input means, the label information is rewritten, and the target area is cut out.

<Function> Now, in order to extract a full-color image, three look-up table memories are installed corresponding to, for example, three RGB dual-purpose memories that store color images, two for each look-up table, for a total of six memories. Suppose you are setting a threshold. When this is done, the area having color information between all the threshold values is temporarily displayed in a specific color, for example, white. In this case, if the color of the target area you want to cut out and the color of another area in the background or the same color at the edge of the target area you want to cut out, the target area you want to cut out and other areas will be connected in white in that part. Be it.

Therefore, a coordinate input means is used to input a line that separates the target area from another area, and the connected parts are separated using the line information of the line. Then, the lookup table setting means rewrites the label information of the target area in the lookup table memory, and the target area is cut out.

<Example> Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail using specific examples.

FIG. 1 shows a device equipped with a dual-purpose memory 15 of 8 bits each for RGB. This dual-purpose memory 15 stores density information constituting an image, label information for determining areas, and line information. The dual-purpose memory 15 is accessed from the microprocessor I3 via the bus 14. The output of the dual-purpose memory 15 is connected to the address of a lookup table memory 16, and the output of the lookup table memory 16 is connected to a D/A converter 18 via a gate circuit 17.

In this example, the output of the lookup table memory 16 is 8 bits for each of RGB (0 to 255).

The lookup table memory (6) is accessed from the microprocessor I3 through the bus 14 and gate 20. The threshold input means If is accessed from the microprocessor 13 via the bus 14, and inputs a threshold value regarding concentration information. Further, the coordinate input means 21 is accessed by the microprocessor 13, and inputs predetermined coordinates in the image, inputs line information, and specifies a target area to be cut out.

The microprocessor 13 includes memory setting means and lookup table setting means configured by software. The memory setting means sets which specific bit of the dual-purpose memory 15 is to store density information, label information, and line information, and writes or erases the label information and line information. Further, the lookup table setting means performs the calculation described later based on the threshold value inputted from the threshold value inputting means 11, the density information, the label information, and the line information to perform the lookup. The contents of table memory 16 are set.

Further, the output (video analog signal) of the D/A converter 18 is sent to the display 19, where image display is performed.

Next, the processing of this device will be explained. First, images are transferred to the shared memory 15 using a scanner, TV camera, or other means.
Please input it to . At this stage, the dual-purpose memory 15 stores 8 bits of information for each of RGB per l dot. Next, as an example, the upper six pits of the dual-purpose memory 15 are used for image information, and the lowest one pit is used for label information related to area extraction.

Further, the line information for disconnection is stored in the second bit from the bottom of the R dual-purpose memory 15, for example. The present inventors have already invented a method of displaying or erasing lines by storing line information in specific bits of the dual-purpose memory 15 and changing the settings of the look-up table memory 16. The second bit from the bottom of the BG dual-purpose memory 15 is not used (for example, 0 is written in it). In this way, the information stored in the dual-purpose memory 15 by the memory setting means is image information i (0≦i<2'), region extraction label information! , line information k (k=Oi), and the output of the dual-purpose memory 15 is 22.
×i+2×, and the output of the shared memory 15 of GI3 is 2
'xl+4.

First, when starting extraction, the input of each lookup table memory I6 of RG 13 is set to X=22Xi'+2
When Xk' +, J', outputs rr(x), fg(x
).

The lookup table setting means is used to set rb(x) as follows.

If i'< r or rt <1' then rr(x) = (1-' ) x i,'X2''Xi+
If '
+-4')xDrl+'xC1'<gI or g
, <! 'If rg(χ)=poor'
If gi'< b, or <i' then rb(x)=
ju'x2"xi b, if ≦i'≦b2, rb<x)=fl'
Db where ", r2: gl+ gt: lll
+ +L is input by threshold input means +16
There are two thresholds. C is the density information of the line, and Dr
, Dg.

Db is density information representing a specific color that temporarily displays the area to be cut out. With this setting, the following display will be performed according to the contents stored in the dual-purpose memory 15.

(1) When line information is stored in the memory 15 that stores line information of R (k'=1), the output of the lookup table memory 16 of it becomes C.

(2) When there is no line information in the memory that stores line information of R, and 1 is stored in the memory that stores label information (k' =
0. Jl' = 1), density information (2''xi) is output regardless of the threshold value.

(3) When there is no line information in the memory that stores line information of R, and 0 is stored in the memory that stores label information (k
'=O,, M'=C), for each color, if the density information is outside the threshold range, the output is 0; if it is within the range, the output is Dr.

The values are given by Dg and Db.

After setting the contents of the lookup table memory 16 as described above, the contents are extracted in the following steps.

(i) Using the microprocessor 13, write 0 into the lower two bits of the dual-purpose memory 15 for each RGB color.

(ii) The L threshold input means 11 inputs the threshold rl+
Input rz: gI, gz: L, bt. As a result, the display device I9 shows a specific color (Dr.

Dg, Db).

(iii) If the target area you want to cut out and the background color are the same and are connected, select the target area you want to cut out in a specific color (+)
r, Dg, Db), the background is similarly displayed in a series of specific colors (Dr, Dg, Db). For example, if Figure 3(d) is the original image, Figure 2(a)
) is displayed.

In this case, the coordinate input means 21 is used to input a straight line or a curved line that separates the target area to be cut out from the background. Specifically, the method of inputting these straight lines or curves is to input the dual-purpose memory 15 of R that is set to write line information.
Using the microprocessor 13 in the second bit from the bottom,
Write l corresponding to the line using the memory setting means. As a result, the data R (k=1) in the dual-purpose memory 15 for R at the location where the line is written is as follows using the R component, ir, of the gradation information at that point.

R(k=t)=2” x ir +2As a result, the output fr(R(k=
1)) becomes fr(R(k=1))=C, and the display 19 displays whether the R component is the color of C.

The data R (k = o) in the dual-purpose memory 15 in the part where no line is written is R (k = 0) = 2'' using ir.
ir, and as a result, the lookup table memory 1
The output ``r(R(k=O))'' of 6 becomes 0 as expected from Dr. 6 due to the relationship between ir and the thresholds r, , r2 as shown below.

fr (R(k= 0)) = 0 (ir< rl or r, <1r) = Dr(r, ≦ir≦r2) The above makes the value of C different from either Dr or 0. If set, lines can be displayed on the display 19 in a manner that distinguishes them from areas other than lines.

This situation is shown in FIG. 2(b).

(iv) After separating the region to be cut out from the background by the operation in (iii), a label information setting process is performed. The specific method is, for example, by cutting out f by the coordinate man means 21.
Input one point (Xo, Yo) within the target area.

After inputting the information, use the microprocessor 13 to search for a connected area that satisfies the following two conditions, starting from the input coordinate point, and change the label information for both RGB from 0 to 1. .

(Condition 1) RGB components of color information are (ir, ig).

ib), then rl ≦ ir≦r, kg, ≦ig
≦g, gas, ≦ib≦b2 (condition 2) Line information is not written.

Since the second point of the cutting line drawn in result (iii) does not satisfy (condition 2), label information should be written only in the target area to be cut out, which is displayed in a specific color.

Now, regarding the above separation phase line, if a specific color display area is connected to a part that you do not want to label, you can input it for the purpose of separating it, so input the total boundary of the area you want to label. There's no need. Therefore, inputting a very simple line is sufficient.

<Effects of the Invention> As is clear from the above description, the image processing device of the present invention can perform color separation on an image memory separated into RG13, for example.
rl, rt: L, Ih: bl, bv
(') By setting thresholds for two It colors and setting the lookup table to display brightly only the range between each threshold, all RGB color information is included in the threshold propensity. The image area to be cropped is displayed in a specific color on the display, and the area to be cropped is confirmed in advance.
If the target area you want to cut out and the background (other area) are connected because they have the same color, input a straight line or curve that separates the target area you want to cut out from the other area using the coordinate input means, and then specify Because area extraction is performed by specifying the area displayed in color using a coordinate input means, color thresholds can be used even if the target area to be extracted is connected to other areas with some of the same color. It is possible to easily perform cutouts.

Moreover, when inputting a curved line instead of a straight line, it is sufficient to input a simple line because it is only necessary to separate the parts that would be connected in the cutting method using color thresholds. As described above, according to the present invention, since the cutting method using the color threshold value and the cutting method using the line are used in combination, it is possible to easily cut out a complicated shape.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 (a
), (b), (c) are diagrams illustrating the cutting out of the area in the above embodiment, and Figures 3 (a), (b), (c), (
d) is a diagram illustrating region cutting in a conventional example. 11... Threshold input means, 12... Main storage device,
13...Processor, 14...Data bus, I5...
Dual-purpose memory, 16... Lookup table memory,
17...Gate circuit, 18...D/A converter, 1
9...Display device, 20...Gate circuit for reading and writing lookup table, 21...Coordinate input means. Patent applicant Sharp company agent
Patent Attorneys Blue and White Two Idiots Figure 3 (a) (b) (C) (d)

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A dual-purpose memory that stores density information for each pixel that makes up an image, label information that identifies areas, and line information depending on the case, and a lookup that converts and outputs the output information of the dual-purpose memory. a table memory; a display means for displaying an image based on the output information of the lookup table memory; a threshold input means for inputting a desired threshold value regarding density information; a coordinate input means for inputting coordinates; and a memory setting means for writing or erasing the label information and line information by setting which specific bit of the dual-purpose memory is to store the concentration information, label information, and line information. , lookup table setting means for setting the contents of the lookup table memory based on the threshold input from the threshold input means, the concentration information, the label information, and the line information; The output information representing the characteristic level of each pixel of the original image from the dual-purpose memory is converted by the look-up table memory, and the area defined by the threshold input from the threshold input means is displayed by the display means. is displayed in a specific color in advance, and if the area displayed in the specific color is connected to another area other than the target area that you want to cut out, a line that separates the target area from the other area using the coordinate input means. input, separate the target area and other areas that were connected by line information, select this separated target area using the coordinate input means, rewrite the label information, and cut out the target area. An image processing device characterized in that: