Image processing device, image forming device, tint block image, printed material, image processing method, image forming method and program-recorded medium

Abstract

An image processing device includes a code image generating unit that generates a code image that contains plural patterns different in shape and represents predetermined information on the basis of positional relationship between adjacent patterns and a image composing unit that combines the code image generated by the code image generating unit and a document image.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a method of embedding trace information according to an image processing device of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A shows a printed original manuscript, and FIG. 1B shows a copy image copied from the original manuscript;

FIG. 2 shows an image forming system 1 containing an image forming device 10;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the hardware construction of an image processing device 2 to which an image processing method according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention is applied while concentrating on a controller 20;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the functional construction of an image processing program 4 that is executed by the controller 20 and implements the image processing method of the exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the details of a tint block image generator 46;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams showing a first code and a second code, wherein FIG. 6A shows a first code generated by a first encoder 460, and FIG. 6B shows a second code generated by a second encoder 464;

FIGS. 7A to 7C each is a diagram showing a pattern that is stored in a pattern memory 468 and is referred to by a pattern image generator 466;

FIGS. 8A to 8C are diagrams showing a method of adjusting the pattern position by a pattern position modulator 470, wherein FIG. 8A shows a pattern pair comprising adjacent patterns, and FIGS. 8B and 8C show pattern pairs for which the distance between the patterns is adjusted by the pattern position modulator 470;

FIGS. 9A to 9C are diagrams showing printed material on which a background tint block image generated by the image processing device 2 is printed, wherein FIG. 9A shows a printed material having the background tint block image printed thereon, FIG. 9B shows a copy manuscript achieved by copying the printed material, and FIG. 9C is diagram showing the background tint block image in which an area S in FIG. 9A is enlarged;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing background tint block image generating processing (S10) by an image processing program 4;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing print processing (S20) by an image forming device 10;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the details of a trace information detector 56;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the details of a first code decoder 566;

FIGS. 14A to 14D are diagrams showing Hough transformation carried out by a skew angle detector 574, wherein FIG. 4A shows image data (pattern data) stored in a buffer memory 572, FIG. 14B shows a Hough space after all the patterns are subjected to Hough transformation, FIG. 14C shows a projection distribution on the angle θ axis, and FIG. 14D shows the waveform in the distance ρ direction on the angle θ skew;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing first trace information decoding processing (S30) by a first code decoder 566;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the details of a second code decoder 568;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing second trace information decoding processing (S40) by a second code decoder 568;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing trace information detection processing (S50) by the image processing device 2;

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the details of a tint block image generator 66;

FIGS. 20A and 20B are diagrams showing a first word arrangement and a second bit arrangement, wherein FIG. 20A shows the first word arrangement generated by a first encoder 660, and FIG. 20B shows the second bit arrangement generated by a second encoder 664;

FIGS. 21A to 21H each is a diagram showing a pattern that is stored in a code pattern memory 668 and referred to by a pattern image generator 666;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing background tint block image generating processing (S60) by an image processing program 4 executed on the image processing device 2 according to a second exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the details of a trace information detector 76;

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing first trace information decoding processing (S70) of a first code decoder 766; and

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing second trace information decoding processing (S80) of a second code decoder 768.

Claims

1. An image processing device comprising: a code image generating unit that generates a code image that contains a plurality of patterns different in shape and represents predetermined information on the basis of positional relationship between adjacent patterns; andan image composing unit that combines the code image generated by the code image generating unit and a document image to generate a composed image.

2. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the code image generating unit comprises: a pattern arranging unit that arranges a plurality of patterns different in shape, anda pattern position adjusting unit that adjusts the positional relationship between adjacent patterns arranged by the pattern arranging unit on the basis of predetermined information.

3. The image processing device according to claim 2, wherein: the pattern arranging unit arranges the patterns on the basis of first information, andthe pattern position adjusting unit adjusts the positional relationship between adjacent patterns on the basis of second information.

4. The image processing device according to claim 3, wherein the pattern position adjusting unit adjusts the positional relationship between the adjacent patterns on the basis of the second information containing at least a part of the first information.

5. The image processing device according to claim 2, wherein the pattern position adjusting unit adjusts the distance between patterns adjacent in a vertical direction.

6. The image processing device according to claim 2, wherein the pattern position adjusting unit adjusts the distance between patterns adjacent in a horizontal direction.

7. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined information includes identification information for identifying the composed image composed by the image composing unit.

8. An image processing device comprising: a code image generating unit that generates a code image representing predetermined information on the basis of an arrangement of a plurality of patterns in which a plurality of sub patterns different in shape are arranged in different positional relationships; andan image composing unit that combines the code image generated by the code image generating unit and a document image.

9. An image processing device comprising: a pattern detecting unit that detects a plurality of patterns contained in an image;an information detecting unit that detects information on the basis of positional relationship between adjacent patterns out of the plurality of patterns detected by the pattern detecting unit.

10. An image processing device comprising: an accepting unit that accepts a read image;a first pattern detecting unit that detects a plurality of patterns that are contained in the read image accepted by the accepting unit and are different in shape;a first information detecting unit that detects first information on the basis of arrangement of the plurality of patterns detected by the first pattern detecting unit;a second pattern detecting unit that detects a plurality of patterns contained in the read image accepted by the accepting unit; anda second information detecting unit that detects second information on the basis of positional relationship between adjacent patterns out of the plurality of patterns detected by the second pattern detecting unit.

11. The image processing device according to claim 10, wherein the first information detecting unit detects the first information further on the basis of the second information detected by the second information detecting unit.

12. The image processing device according to claim 10 wherein the second information detecting unit detects the second information further on the basis of the first information detected by the first information detecting unit.

13. An image forming device comprising: a code image generating unit that generates a code image that contains a plurality of patterns different in shape and represents predetermined information on the basis of positional relationship between adjacent patterns;an image composing unit that combines the code image generated by the code image generating unit and a document image to compose a composite image;an output unit that outputs the composite image formed by the image composing unit.

14. An image forming device comprising: a code image generating unit that generates a code image that contains a plurality of patterns different in shape and represents predetermined information on the basis of positional relationship between adjacent patterns;an image composing unit that combines the code image generated by the code image generating unit and a document image to compose a composite image;an output unit that outputs the composite image composed by the image composing unit;a reading unit that reads an image output from the output unit;a pattern detecting unit that detects a plurality of patterns contained in the read image; andan information detecting unit that detects information on the basis of positional relationship between adjacent patterns out of the plurality of patterns detected by the pattern detecting unit.

15. A tint block image comprising a plurality of patterns that are different in shape and arranged on the basis of first information, wherein: the positional relationship between adjacent patterns out of the arranged patterns is arranged on the basis of second information.

16. A printed material having a tint block image printed thereon, the tint block image comprising a plurality of patterns that are different in shape and arranged on the basis of first information, wherein positional relationship between adjacent patterns out of the arranged patterns is arranged on the basis of second information.

17. An image processing method comprising: generating a code image that contains a plurality of patterns different in shape and represents predetermined information on the basis of positional relationship between adjacent patterns; andcombining the code image thus generated and a document image.

18. An image processing method comprising: generating a code image representing predetermined information on the basis of an arrangement of a plurality of patterns in which a plurality of sub patterns different in shape are arranged in different positional relationships; andcombining the generated code image and a document image.

19. An image processing method comprising: detecting a plurality of patterns contained in an image;detecting information on the basis of positional relationship between adjacent patterns out of the detected plurality of patterns.

20. An image processing method comprising: accepting a read image;detecting a plurality of patterns that are contained in the accepted read image and different in shape;detecting first information on the basis of an arrangement of the detected plurality of patterns;detecting a plurality of patterns contained in the accepted read image; anddetecting second information on the basis of positional relationship between adjacent patterns out of the detected plurality of patterns.

21. An image processing method comprising: generating a code image that contains a plurality of patterns different in shape and represents predetermined information on the basis of positional relationship between adjacent patterns;combining the generated code image and a document image to compose a composite image;outputting the composite image;reading a document image;detecting a plurality of patterns contained in the read document image; anddetecting information on the basis of positional relationship between adjacent patterns out of the detected plurality of patterns.

22. An image forming method comprising: generating a code image that contains a plurality of patterns different in shape and represents predetermined information on the basis of positional relationship between adjacent patterns;combining the generated code image and a document image to compose a composite image; andoutputting the composite image.

23. A computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process for image processing, the process comprising: generating a code image that contains a plurality of patterns different in shape and represents predetermined information on the basis of positional relationship between adjacent patterns; andcombining the generated code image and a document image.

24. A computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process for image processing, the process comprising: generating a code image for representing predetermined information on the basis of an arrangement of a plurality of patterns in which a plurality of sub patterns different in shape are arranged in different positional relationships; andcombining the generated code image and a document image.

25. A computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process for image processing, the process comprising: accepting a read image;detecting a plurality of patterns that are contained in the accepted read image and different in shape;detecting first information on the basis of an arrangement of the detected plurality of patterns;detecting a plurality of patterns contained in the accepted read image;detecting second information on the basis of positional relationship between adjacent patterns out of the detected plurality of patterns.

26. A computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process for image processing, the process comprising: generating a code image that contains a plurality of patterns different in shape and represents predetermined information on the basis of positional relationship between adjacent patterns;combining the generated code image and a document image to compose a composite image; andoutputting the composite image.

27. A recording medium recorded with a program making a computer of an image forming device execute: generating a code image that contains plural patterns different in shape and represents predetermined information on the basis of positional relationship between adjacent patterns;combining the generated code image and a document image to compose a composite image;outputting the composite image;reading a document image;detecting plural patterns contained in the read document image; anddetecting information on the basis of positional relationship between adjacent patterns out of the detected plurality of patterns.