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EP0033623A2
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A method and apparatus for reducing the gray scale resolution of a digitized image
Assignee: NCR Canada Ltd
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Filing: 1981-01-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2001-01-26
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for reducing the gray scale resolution of a document (12), such as a cheque or deposit slip. The apparatus includes a scanning module (18, 22) for scanning a document along x and y coordinates with regard thereto for generating pixels representing gray scale values for discrete areas of the document along the x and y coordinates, with each pixel having a predetermined number of bits. A high pass filter module (38) is also included for summing the associated pixels within a window to produce a window sum as the window is moved relatively along coordinates corresponding to the x and y coordinates, and the high pass filter module (38) also includes means for comparing a selected pixel within a window with the associated window sum and predetermined criteria and for generating first and second output values in accordance therewith. The first and second output values have a fewer number of bits than the associated selected pixel.
Inventors
- 👤 Mario Francisco De La Guardia
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 10:40
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/403; G; G06; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/20; G06V10/28; G06V10/30; G06V10/34; G06V10/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
An apparatus for reducing the gray scale resolution of a document (12), comprising means for scanning (14, 18, 22) said document along x and y coordinates with regard thereto for generating pixels (# φ, # 1, ff 639) representing gray scale values for discrete areas of said document along said x and y coordinates, each said pixel having a predetermined number of binary bits, characterized by means for summing (60, 62, 64, 66, 76, 78 PROMS # 1 - # 7) the associated pixels within a window (54) to produce a window sum as said window is moved relatively along coordinates corresponding to said x and y coordinates; and means for comparing (68, 34) a selected pixel (fij, Eq. s #26, 27, 28) within a said window (54) with the associated said window sum and predetermined criteria and for generating one of first and second output values (Pij) in accordance therewith; said first and second output values having fewer binary bits than the associated said selected pixel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
167 words
An apparatus for reducing the gray scale resolution of a document (12), comprising means for scanning (14, 18, 22) said document along x and y coordinates with regard thereto for generating pixels (# φ, # 1, ff 639) representing gray scale values for discrete areas of said document along said x and y coordinates, each said pixel having a predetermined number of binary bits, characterized by means for summing (60, 62, 64, 66, 76, 78 PROMS # 1 - # 7) the associated pixels within a window (54) to produce a window sum as said window is moved relatively along coordinates corresponding to said x and y coordinates; and means for comparing (68, 34) a selected pixel (fij, Eq. s #26, 27, 28) within a said window (54) with the associated said window sum and predetermined criteria and for generating one of first and second output values (Pij) in accordance therewith; said first and second output values having fewer binary bits than the associated said selected pixel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said predetermined criteria includes a threshold value and said first output is generated when the selected pixel (fij) and said threshold value differ from an associated average pixel from said window sum by less than a predetermined amount (T 1 ), and said second output is generated when the selected pixel and said threshold value differ from said average pixel from said window sum by at least said predetermined amount (T 1 ).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said summing means further comprises means (34) for storing said pixels in columns and rows corresponding to said x and y coordinates; and said summing means further includes second means (64) for storing sums (Sj) of rows of pixels within said window (54) making up a said window sum whereby an oldest row (Sa) of pixels within said window is subtracted from said window sum and a newest row of pixels (Sb) is added to said window sum as said window is moved relatively along said y coordinate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said comparing means (68) includes a decoding device (68) for receiving a selected pixel (A 0 - A 5 ) and a predetermined number of bits (A 6 - AI2) from an associated window (54) sum and also for generating said first and second output values therefrom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said window (54) contains a predetermined number of pixels along said x coordinate and a predetermined number of pixels along said y coordinate, with said selected pixel (52) being centrally located within the associated said window.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said summing means includes an arithmetic logic unit (78) for generating said window sum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that said summing means (60, 62) includes third means (78, 58) for deleting said oldest row of pixels (Sa) from and adding said newest row of pixels (Sb) to said window sum and also includes means for deleting an oldest pixel (bqj) from an associated sum (Sj) for a row of pixels and for adding a newest pixel (btj) thereto as said window is moved relatively along said x coordinate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
113 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that said scanning means generates a predetermined number (640) of pixels per scan and said summing means further comprises a scratch memory (64) for storing a predetermined number of said sums (Sj) of rows of pixels, a buffer memory (34) for storing a predetermined number of said scans, a pixel buffer (100) for storing said selected pixel, and means for transferring a next said scan of said pixels from said buffer memory and for adding it to said scratch memory as said window is moved relatively along said x coordinate, and for transferring said selected pixel from said buffer memory (34) to said pixel buffer (100).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said summing means further comprises an arithmetic logic unit (78) having a random access memory (112) associated therewith for storing said window sums.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that said comparing means includes a latch (66) for receiving said selected pixel from said pixel buffer, and a decoding device (68) for receiving said selected pixel and a predetermined number of bits for a window sum for an associated window from said random access memory (112) and for generating said first and second outputs therefrom.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said window (54) is comprised of an equal number of said pixels along said x and y coordinates and said first and second values are each represented by a single binary bit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said scanning means, summing means, and comparing means are used for reducing the gray scale resolution of the front side of said document, and said apparatus further comprises second scanning means (46, 48), second summing means and second comparing means corresponding to said first named scanning means, summing means and comparing means, respectively, for reducing the gray scale resolution of the rear side of said document (12).
Claim 14
Independent Claim
180 words
A method for reducing the gray scale resolution of a document (12) comprising the steps of (a) scanning said document (12) along x and y coordinates with regard thereto for generating pixels representing gray scale values for discrete areas of said document along said x and y coordinates, characterized by (b) summing the associated pixels within a window (54) to produce a window sum as said window is moved relatively along corresponding x and y coordinates and (c) comparing a selected pixel (52 fij) within a said window with the associated window sum and predetermined criter-a for generating a first output value (Pij) wher. the selected pixel and a threshold value differ from an associated average pixel from said window sum by less than a predetermined amount (T 1 ) and for generating a second output value (Pij) when the selected pixel and said threshold value differ from said average pixel from said window sum by at least said predetermined amount (T 1 ), whereby said first and second output values have fewer bits than the associated said selected pixel.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
180 words
A method for reducing the gray scale resolution of a document (12) comprising the steps of (a) scanning said document (12) along x and y coordinates with regard thereto for generating pixels representing gray scale values for discrete areas of said document along said x and y coordinates, characterized by (b) summing the associated pixels within a window (54) to produce a window sum as said window is moved relatively along corresponding x and y coordinates and (c) comparing a selected pixel (52 fij) within a said window with the associated window sum and predetermined criter-a for generating a first output value (Pij) wher. the selected pixel and a threshold value differ from an associated average pixel from said window sum by less than a predetermined amount (T 1 ) and for generating a second output value (Pij) when the selected pixel and said threshold value differ from said average pixel from said window sum by at least said predetermined amount (T 1 ), whereby said first and second output values have fewer bits than the associated said selected pixel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
81 words
A method according to claim 13, characterized in that said summing step comprises the steps of (d) storing sums (64) of rows of pixels (Sj) within said window (54) making up a said window sum. (e) subtracting the sum for an oldest row of pixels (Sa) within said window from said window sum, and (f) adding the sum for a newest row of pixels (Sb) within said window to said window sum as said window is moved along said y coordinate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 14, characterized in that said summing step comprises the steps of (g) subtracting an oldest pixel (bqj) from the associated sum for a row of pixels and adding a newest pixel (btj) thereto as said window is moved along said x coordinate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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