EP0501814A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Image processing apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1992-02-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-02-28
Abstract
Abstract An image processing apparatus for converting color images into monochromatic pattern images. The image processing apparatus includes: means for detecting the area of a color image (508); means for converting a color image into a monochromatic pattern image (507); and control means (523) for varying such image processing in accordance with the result of detection made by the means for detecting the area. When a thin line is detected (521) in a color area, the method of processing is determined based on the width of the detected thin line. For example, when the width of the thin line is smaller than a predetermined value, the area of such thin line may be outputted as a plain image instead of a pattern image so that it may easily be seen or recognized. The contour of a color area may be made conspicuous by combining a plain image and a pattern image.
Inventors
- 👤 Masafumi c/o Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Kamei
- 👤 Yoshiyuki C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Suzuki
- 👤 Shizuo C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Hasegawa
- 👤 Hiroyuki C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ichikawa
- 👤 Yoshihiro c/o Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Funamizu
- 👤 Akio c/o Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Itoh
- 👤 Yoshinori Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Abe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 13:55
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/40093; H04N1/40012
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
An image processing apparatus for converting a color image in a picture image into a monochromatic pattern image, said image processing apparatus comprising: area detection means for detecting the area of said color image; image processing means for converting said color image into said monochromatic pattern image; and control means for causing to vary image processing in said image processing means in accordance with the result of detection by said area detection means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control means controls to generate different pattern images in accordance with the result of detection by said area detection means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control means controls to generate pattern images varying in pattern pitch in accordance with the result of detection by said area detection means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
An image processing apparatus of claim 3, wherein said control means causes to generate a pattern image with a large pattern pitch when the area of said color image is larger than a predetermined size and causes to generate a pattern image with a smaller pattern pitch when the area of said color image is smaller than the predetermined size.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
An image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein, when the area of said color image is smaller than a predetermined size, said control means causes to generate the contour of the area as a pattern image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein, when the area of said color image is smaller than a predetermined size, caused to convert the area into a black image without pattern.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image processing apparatus of claim 6, wherein said area detection means detects a thin line and prohibits a pattern conversion when said thin line is detected.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
An image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein, when the area of said color image is smaller than a predetermined size, said control means causes to convert the area into a black image without pattern and causes to synthesize a pattern image immediately nearby the area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
An image processing apparatus of claim 8, wherein said control means causes to synthesize a pattern image along the outside of the contour of the area of said color image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image processing apparatus of claim 9, wherein an image smaller than said predetermined size comprises a thin line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
An image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control means causes to synthesize a pattern image and a plain image without pattern but with density.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
An image processing apparatus of claim 11, wherein said control means causes to vary the synthesizing ratio between said pattern image and said plain image in accordance with the result of detection by said area detection means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
An image processing apparatus of claim 12, wherein said control means controls to increase the synchesizing ratio of said plain image as the area of said color image becomes smaller.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
An image processing apparatus of claim 12, wherein said control means controls to increase the synthesizing ratio of said plain image toward a boundary of the area of said color image and to increase the synthesizing ratio of said pattern image toward the inside of the area.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
79 words
An image processing apparatus for converting a color image in a picture image into a monochromatic pattern image, said image processing apparatus comprising: the line detection means for detecting the line width of thin lines in said color image; image processing means for converting said color image into said monochromatic pattern image; and control means for causing to vary image processing in said image processing means in accordance with the result of detection by said thin line detection means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
An image processing apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for fatting a thin line when said thin line detection means detectes said thin line having a width equal to or less than a predetermined width, and wherein said control means controls to convert into a pattern image the thin line fatted by said means for fatting a thin line.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
An image processing apparatus of claim 15, wherein, when said thin line detection means detects a thin line having a width equal to or less than a predetermined width, said control means controls to pattern the both sides of the thin line.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
An image processing apparatus of claim 15, wherein, when said thin line detection means detects a thin line having a width equal to or less than a predetermined width, said control means controls to process the thin line with a fixed value.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image processing apparatus of claim 15, wherein said control means synthesizes a pattern image and a plain image wihtout pattern but with density.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
An image processing apparatus of claim 19, wherein said control means varies the synthesizing ratio between said pattern image and said plain image in accordance with the result of detection by said thin line detection means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
An image processing apparatus of claim 20, wherein said control means increases the synthesizing ratio of said plain image as the width of a thin line in said color image becomes smaller.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image processing apparatus of claim 15, wherein said image processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus for printing monochromatic images on a sheet.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said image processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus for printing monochromatic images on a sheet.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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