JP3226903B2 - Digital image forming equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a digital image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a digital image forming apparatus having two colors, chromaticity and gray level.
The present invention relates to a digital image forming device using an exposure element.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In FIG. 1, first, a "color image is formed on a negative film" 10 by a camera, then a "develop a negative film" 20 is performed. Exposure with a photoprinting machine (hereinafter, referred to as a printing machine) ”was performed 30 to complete a color photograph 40. However, the conventional technique of "developing a negative film" 20 requires many steps, and the chemical solution used for development has a problem of environmental pollution. In addition, the negative film is liable to change in quality and has a problem in storage.

[0003] With the progress of the times, computers have made remarkable developments, digital image processing technology has gradually matured, and the invention of scanners and digital cameras has signaled the arrival of the digital image processing era. In FIG. 2, a color image scanned or photographed by the scanner 50 or the digital camera 60 is converted into a color image file 70 and can be stored on a floppy disk or a hard disk (neither is shown). Next, using the color image file 70, a scanned or photographed color image can be viewed on the display of the computer system 80, and can be printed as a color graphic 40 by the color printer 90. Therefore, although the problem of developing a conventional negative film and the problem of difficulty in storage can be solved by the color image file 70, the print quality of the color printer 90 is still inferior to that of the photograph, and the printing speed is slow. In addition, there are problems such as high cost of consumables, etc.
It is not.

FIG. 3 shows a digital image forming system for transferring a color image file to a photographic printing machine. Conversion to a high resolution color photograph (color graphic 40) is a goal of many people.

[0005]

There are the following digital image forming systems according to the prior art. (A) Color single element digital image forming system:
This method uses a single color display panel (eg, a color LCD = liquid crystal display) to form a digital image, and has the simplest structure.
It is easy to apply to the printing machine of the prior art and the cost is the lowest, but the brightness is insufficient and the degree of analysis is not sufficient. (B) Monochrome CRT + color filter array (Color Fi
lter Arrays): This color filter array is red /
There are four element systems of blue / green / ash or indigo / carmine / yellow / grey, or three element systems of red / blue / green or indigo / carmine / yellow. In a digital image forming system comprising a color filter array of various colors using such a black and white CRT (cathode tube) as a light source, the mechanism of a conversion system for exposing a color image file by a printing machine is very complicated, and the related art is known. Is very difficult to apply to printing machines, and the cost is very high. (C) Red / blue / green LED array: A digital imaging system configured with such a red / blue / green LED (light emitting diode) array as a light source and a filter is:
The mechanism of the conversion system for exposing a color image file by a printing machine is very complicated, and it is very difficult to apply to a printing machine of the prior art, and the cost is very high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, a first object of the present invention to provide a digital image forming apparatus in which two exposure elements of color and gray levels have functions similar to a negative film or a projection film. It is a second object of the present invention to provide a digital image forming apparatus which realizes a digital image as a high-resolution color image by using the two exposure elements.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve a desired object, a digital image forming apparatus according to the present invention forms a color image file as a color image. A computer drive system for storing and processing the image file and converting and outputting the color drive signal and the gray scale drive signal, a light source, a focus system, a first exposure element, a second exposure element, and a synthesis element; Connected to a computer drive system to form a color pattern on a first exposure element based on a color drive signal, and to form a gray scale pattern on a second exposure element based on a gray scale drive signal; The first exposure element and the second exposure element are illuminated, and a color pattern and After combining the lay scale pattern by focusing system consists of a digital imaging system for forming an image as a color image.

A digital image forming apparatus according to the present invention forms a color image file as a color image, and stores and processes the color image file and outputs the color image file. A digital exposure drive system connected to a computer system for receiving a color image file, converting the color image signal into a grayscale drive signal and outputting the color drive signal, and a digital exposure drive system connected to the digital exposure drive system and receiving a color pattern based on the color drive signal A second exposure element connected to the digital exposure drive system for forming a gray scale pattern based on the gray scale drive signal, and a light source for irradiating the first exposure element and the second exposure element And is illuminated by a light source It is composed of a synthesizing element for synthesizing the color pattern and the gray scale pattern on the first exposure element and the second exposure element, and a focusing system for condensing a pattern output from the synthesizing element to form a color image. .

Further, a digital image forming apparatus according to the present invention forms an image of a color image file as a color photograph, and stores and processes the color image file and outputs the color image file. A digital exposure drive system connected to a computer system for receiving a color image file, converting the color image file into a color drive signal and a gray scale drive signal, and outputting the converted signal; a light source; a focus system; a first exposure element; , A combination element, and connected to a digital exposure drive system, forming a color pattern on the first exposure element based on the color drive signal, and forming a gray scale pattern on the second exposure element based on the gray scale drive signal. Forming a light source as a first exposure element and (2) a digital image forming system for irradiating the exposure element and combining the color pattern and the gray scale pattern with a synthesizing element and then forming an image as a color image by a focusing system; And a printing machine that prints color photographs while exposing it to photographic paper.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 4, when the cell distribution on the retina of the human eye is shown, a solid line shows a distribution curve of the number of cone photoreceptors (a photoreceptor sensitive to chromaticity), and a dotted line shows a rod photoreceptor. It shows the distribution curve of the number of cells (gray level, ie, photoreceptors sensitive to light and dark), and the horizontal axis indicated by the arrow is the visual focus. The number of cone and rod photoreceptors at this visual focus has an extremely large gap. That is, from FIG. 4, it can be seen that the human eye is sensitive to gray levels and not so sensitive to chromaticity.

Therefore, based on the above analysis, a high-resolution gray scale pattern is formed for a digital color image and combined with a low-resolution color pattern, so that the human eye can obtain a high-resolution gray scale pattern. It will be captured as a color image.

Referring to FIG. 5, a digital image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a computer system 110, a digital exposure driving system 120, a light source 130, a digital image forming system 140, and a focusing system 15.
0, and provides a color image to the printing device 160 to perform exposure printing, or
Or provide a color image to be projected on a screen.

Computer system 110 is capable of storing and processing color image files formed by a scanner or digital camera or other image processing system not shown. Further, by correcting and correcting the color image file based on the color image or the color photograph finally formed by the computer system 110, the color image or the color photograph finally formed is more beautiful. be able to.

The digital exposure drive system 120 converts the color image file into a first exposure element and a color image file according to the present invention.
The second exposure element is for converting a color drive signal and a gray scale drive signal necessary for two exposure elements (a color display panel and a gray scale display panel).

The digital image forming system 140 includes a first exposure element (color LCD = liquid crystal display panel) 142 and a second exposure element 142, as can be easily understood with reference to FIG.
An exposure element (gray scale LCD = liquid crystal display panel) 144 and a synthesizing element 146, and the first exposure element 142 is a low-resolution color LCD =
As a liquid crystal panel, a color pattern can be formed on the first exposure element 142 based on a color drive signal. The second exposure element 144 is converted to a high-resolution gray scale L
As a CD panel, a gray scale pattern can be formed on the second exposure element 144 based on a gray scale drive signal.

The light source 130 illuminates the first exposure element 142 and the second exposure element 144, and synthesizes a color pattern and a gray scale pattern by the synthesizing element 146. Then, the combining element 14 is
6 is condensed as a high-resolution color image and projected on the screen of the projector 160,
Exposure printing is performed by a printing machine 160 to obtain a color photograph.

The digital image forming system 140
If the light source 130 and the focusing system 150 used by the printer are incorporated into the printer 160, a color photograph can also be exposed and printed by the printer light source and the printer focusing system.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the light source, the digital image forming system, and the focusing system. The first exposure element 142 and the second exposure element 144
, The color pattern and the gray scale pattern are synthesized on the synthesizing element 146, and then an image is formed as a high-resolution color image by the focusing system 150.

Further, by applying the present invention to a printing machine, the exposure element in the digital image forming system can be a flat display panel (for example, LCD) or a linear display panel (for example, LED). A type display panel can directly expose a color image to photographic paper, and a linear display panel can sequentially expose the photographic paper by scanning the color image in accordance with the movement of the photographic paper based on a drive signal. It is possible.

As described above, the present invention has been disclosed by the preferred embodiments. However, as can be easily understood by those skilled in the art, appropriate changes and modifications can be made within the technical idea of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of patent protection must be determined based on the claims and their equivalents.

[0021]

With the configuration described above according to the present invention, the digital image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the color and gray scale
The two exposure elements that Le level can serve a function similar to a negative film or projection films. Also it is a high resolution color image by the two exposure devices digital image. In addition, it can be easily combined with prior art printing machines, and can significantly reduce the cost of converting digital image files to color photographs. Therefore, the industrial use value is high.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of developing a conventional color image into a photograph.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for converting a conventional digital image into a color graphic.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a digital image forming system for converting a color image file for a printing machine.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the distribution of visual cells on the retina.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating a digital image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of image formation by a light source, a digital image forming system, and a focus system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 110 Computer System 120 Digital Exposure Driving System 130 Light Source 140 Digital Image Forming System 142 First Exposure Element 144 Second Exposure Element 146 Synthetic Element 150 Focusing System 160 Printing Machine or Projector

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/46 H04N 1/387 G03G 15/36 G06T 11/60

Claims (17)

(57) [Claims] 1. A computer drive system for forming a color image file as a color image, storing and processing the color image file, converting the color image file into a color drive signal and a gray scale drive signal, and outputting the same. A light source, a focus system, a first exposure element, a second exposure element, and a synthesis element, and are connected to the computer drive system to form a color pattern on the first exposure element based on the color drive signal. Forming a grayscale pattern on the second exposure element based on the grayscale drive signal, and irradiating the light source on the first exposure element and the second exposure element; And combining the gray scale pattern into the focus system The digital image forming device comprising a digital imaging system for forming an image as a color image I. 2. The computer drive system further comprises a computer system and a digital exposure drive system, wherein the computer system stores and processes the color image file, and wherein the digital exposure drive system receives the color image file. 2. The digital image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the digital image forming device converts the color driving signal into the gray scale driving signal. 3. A computer system for forming a color image file as a color image, wherein the computer system stores and processes the color image file and outputs the color image file, and is connected to the computer system, A digital exposure drive system for receiving the color image file, converting the color image signal into a color drive signal and a gray scale drive signal, and outputting the converted color image signal; A first exposure element, a second exposure element connected to the digital exposure drive system for forming a gray scale pattern based on the gray scale drive signal, and a light source for irradiating the first exposure element and the second exposure element Illuminated by the light source A synthesizing element for synthesizing the color pattern and the gray scale pattern on the first exposure element and the second exposure element, and a focus for condensing a pattern output from the synthesizing element to form a color image. A digital image forming apparatus comprising the system. 4. A computer system for forming a color image file as a color photograph, storing and processing the color image file, and outputting the color image file; and a computer system connected to the computer system, A digital exposure drive system that receives the color image file, converts the color image file into a color drive signal and a gray scale drive signal, and outputs the digital drive signal, a light source, a focus system, a first exposure element, a second exposure element, and a combining element. Forming a color pattern on the first exposure element based on the color drive signal; and forming a gray scale pattern on the second exposure element based on the gray scale drive signal. And wherein the light source is the first exposure element and Illuminating the second exposure element, combining the color pattern and the gray scale pattern by the combining element, and then forming an image as a color image by the focus system; and connecting to the digital image forming system. And a printing machine for exposing the color image on photographic paper and printing the color photograph. 5. The digital image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said computer system is further capable of correcting and correcting said color image file. 6. The digital image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first exposure element and the second exposure element of the digital image forming system are flat display panels. 7. The digital image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first exposure element and said second exposure element of said digital image forming system are linear display panels. 8. The first exposure element, according to claim 1, 3 and 4 is a color display panel, either 6 or 7
Digital imager of one of claims. 9. The color display panel, the
9. The digital image forming device according to claim 8, wherein the color image display panel has a lower resolution than the second exposure element . 10. The color display panel according to claim 1, wherein
10. The digital image forming device according to claim 8, which is a CD display panel. 11. The second exposure element, according to claim 1, 3 and 4 is a gray-scale display panel, 6 or 7 digital imager according to any one of. 12. The digital image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said gray scale display panel is a gray scale display panel having higher resolution than said first exposure element . 13. The digital image former according to claim 11, wherein the gray scale display panel is a gray scale LCD display panel. 14. The color display panel according to claim 1, wherein
10. The digital image forming device according to claim 8, which is an ED display panel. 15. A color display according to claim 15, wherein said first exposure element is a color display.
The second exposure element is a gray scale display
A play panel, wherein the color display panel is
Is lower analysis than the above gray scale display panel
The digital image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7, wherein the digital image forming apparatus is a digital camera. 16. The digital image former according to claim 11, wherein the gray scale display panel is a gray scale LED display panel. 17. The printing machine further comprises a printing machine light source and a printing machine focusing system, wherein the printing machine light source is replaced by the first exposure element and the second printing device. Illuminating an exposure element, combining the color pattern as well as the gray scale pattern with the combining element, and the printer focus system forms a color image, and exposes the color image on photographic paper to produce the color photograph 5. The digital image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the digital image forming device prints the image.