Method and system for recording images in various magnification ratios

Claim 1

A method for performing magnification conversion in an image reproducing system, in which image data obtained by scanning an original picture in main and sub-scanning directions are written into a plurality of memory locations identified by a plurality of addresses and the image data are used for driving a recording beam in order to record a reproduction image, comprising the steps of: (a) varying a feeding pitch of an input scanning beam in the sub-scanning direction in steps according to a specified magnification ratio; (b) reading the image data from the memory locations; (c) skipping or overlapping some of the addresses of the memory locations according to the specified magnification ratio; and (d) varying the size of the input scanning beam in steps at least in the sub-scanning direction according to the specified magnification ratio.

Claim 2

A method for performing magnification conversion in an image reproducing system, in which image data obtained by scanning an original picture in main and sub-scanning directions are written into a plurality of memory locations identified by a plurality of addresses and the image data are used for driving a recording beam in order to record a reproduction image, comprising the steps of: (a) varying a feeding pitch of an input scanning beam in the sub-scanning direction in steps according to a specified magnification ratio; (b) reading the image data from the memory locations; (c) skipping or overlapping some of the addresses of the memory locations according to the specified magnification ratio; and (d) varying the size of the input scanning beam in steps at least in the sub-scanning direction according to the specified magnification ratio.

Claim 3

A method for performing magnification conversion in an image reproducing system, in which image data obtained by scanning an original picture in main and sub-scanning directions are written into a plurality of memory locations identified by a plurality of addresses and the image data are used for driving a recording beam in order to record a reproduction image, comprising the steps of: (a) varying a feeding pitch of an input scanning beam in the sub-scanning direction in steps according to a specified magnification ratio; (b) reading the image data from the memory locations; (c) skipping or overlapping some of the addresses of the memory locations according to the specified magnification ratio; (d) averaging mixed data of regular image data and image data to be thinned out; and (e) recording the reproduction image instead of using only the regular image data themselves.

Claim 4

A method for performing magnification conversion in an image reproducing system, in which image data obtained by scanning an original picture in main and sub-scanning directions are written into a plurality of memory locations identified by a plurality of addresses and the image data are used for driving a recording beam in order to record a reproduction image, comprising the steps of: (a) varying a feeding pitch of an input scanning beam in the sub-scanning direction in steps according to a specified magnification ratio; (b) reading the image data from the memory locations; (c) skipping or overlapping some of the addresses of the memory locations according to the specified magnification ratio; (d) averaging mixed data of regular image data and image data to be thinned out; and (e) recording the reproduction image instead of using only the regular image data themselves.

Claim 5

A system for performing magnification conversion in an image reproducing system, in which image data obtained by scanning an original picture by an input scanning beam in main and sub-scanning directions are written in a plurality of memory locations identified by a plurality of addresses and the image data are used for driving a recording beam in order to record a reproduction image, comprising: (a) a feeding means for feeding the input scanning beam in the sub-scanning direction in a step-like manner in several pitches according to a specified magnification ratio; (b) a feeding means for feeding a recording beam in a step-like manner in the sub-scanning direction for recording pixels; (c) a means for designating addresses of the stored data for output to the feeding means for said recording beam; and (d) an averaging means for averaging mixed data of the regular image data and image data to be thinned out.

Claim 6

A system for performing magnification conversion in an image reproducing system, in which image data obtained by scanning an original picture by an input scanning beam in main and sub-scanning directions are written in a plurality of memory locations identified by a plurality of addresses and the image data are used for driving a recording beam in order to record a reproduction image, comprising: (a) a feeding means for feeding the input scanning beam in the sub-scanning direction in a step-like manner in several pitches according to a specified magnification ratio; (b) a feeding means for feeding a recording beam in a step-like manner in the sub-scanning direction for recording pixels; (c) a means for designating addresses of the stored data for output to the feeding means for said recording beam; and (d) an averaging means for averaging mixed data of the regular image data and image data to be thinned out.

Claim 7

A method for performing magnification conversion in an image reproducing system, in which image data obtained from scanning of an original picture in main and sub-scanning directions are written into a memory and the image data are used for driving a recording beam in order to record a reproduction image, comprising the steps of: (a) varying a feeding pitch of an input scanning beam in the sub-scanning direction in a step-like manner according to a specified magnification ratio; (b) scanning an original picture in a skipped or in an overlapped fashion by using said input scanning beam according to a specified magnification ratio; and (c) stepwise varying the size of the input scanning beam at least in the sub-scanning direction according to a specified magnification ratio.

Claim 8

A method for performing magnification conversion in an image reproducing system, in which image data obtained from scanning of an original picture in main and sub-scanning directions are written into a memory and the image data are used for driving a recording beam in order to record a reproduction image, comprising the steps of: (a) varying a feeding pitch of an input scanning beam in the sub-scanning direction in a step-like manner according to a specified magnification ratio; (b) scanning an original picture in a skipped or in an overlapped fashion by using said input scanning beam according to a specified magnification ratio; and (c) stepwise varying the size of the input scanning beam at least in the sub-scanning direction according to a specified magnification ratio.

Claim 9

A method for performing magnification conversion in an image reproducing system, in which image data obtained from scanning of an original picture in main and sub-scanning directions are written into a memory and the image data are used for driving a recording beam in order to record a reproduction image, comprising the steps of: (a) varying a feeding pitch of an input scanning beam in the sub-scanning direction in a step-like manner according to a specified magnification ratio; (b) scanning an original picture in a skipped or in an overlapped fashion by using said input scanning beam according to a specified magnification ratio; and (c) picking up image data corresponding to scanning lines to be skipped over together with image data of regular scanning lines.

Claim 10

A method for performing magnification conversion in an image reproducing system, in which image data obtained from scanning of an original picture in main and sub-scanning directions are written into a memory and the image data are used for driving a recording beam in order to record a reproduction image, comprising the steps of: (a) varying a feeding pitch of an input scanning beam in the sub-scanning direction in a step-like manner according to a specified magnification ratio; (b) scanning an original picture in a skipped or in an overlapped fashion by using said input scanning beam according to a specified magnification ratio; and (c) picking up image data corresponding to scanning lines to be skipped over together with image data of regular scanning lines.

Claim 11

A system for performing magnification conversion in an image reproducing system, in which image data obtained from scanning of an original picture in main and sub-scanning directions are written into a memory and the image data are used for driving a recording beam in order to record a reproduction image, comprising: (a) a means for feeding an input scanning beam in the sub-scanning direction in steps in one of several pitches according to a specified magnification ratio and scanning an original picture in a skipped or overlapped fashion by using said input scanning beam according to the specified magnification ratio; and (b) a means for feeding a recording beam in the sub-scanning direction in a constant pitch for scanning pixels, including: (1) a magnification ratio setting circuit; (2) a rate multiplier to determine scanning lines to be skipped over or to be read again according to the specified magnification ratio input from the magnification ratio setting circuit; (3) a step motor controlling circuit which controls a step-motor according to the output of the multiplier; and (4) a step motor which feeds the recording beam in the sub-scanning direction.

Claim 12

A system for performing magnification conversion in an image reproducing system, in which image data obtained from scanning of an original picture in main and sub-scanning directions are written into a memory and the image data are used for driving a recording beam in order to record a reproduction image, comprising: (a) a means for feeding an input scanning beam in the sub-scanning direction in steps in one of several pitches according to a specified magnification ratio and scanning an original picture in a skipped or overlapped fashion by using said input scanning beam according to the specified magnification ratio; and (b) a means for feeding a recording beam in the sub-scanning direction in a constant pitch for scanning pixels, including: (1) a magnification ratio setting circuit; (2) a rate multiplier to determine scanning lines to be skipped over or to be read again according to the specified magnification ratio input from the magnification ratio setting circuit; (3) a step motor controlling circuit which controls a step-motor according to the output of the multiplier; and (4) a step motor which feeds the recording beam in the sub-scanning direction.

Claim 13

A system for performing magnification conversion in an image reproducing system, in which image data obtained from scanning of an original picture in main and sub-scanning directions are written into a memory and the image data are used for driving a recording beam in order to record a reproduction image, comprising: (a) a means for feeding an input scanning beam in the sub-scanning direction in steps in one of several pitches according to a specified magnification ratio and scanning an original picture in a skipped or overlapped fashion by using said input scanning beam according to the specified magnification ratio; and (b) a means for feeding a recording beam in the sub-scanning direction in a constant pitch for scanning pixels, including: (1) a magnification ratio setting circuit; (2) a rate multiplier to determine scanning lines to be skipped over or to be read again according to the specified magnification ratio input from the magnification ratio setting circuit; (3) a step motor controlling circuit which controls a step-motor according to the output of the multiplier; and (4) a step motor which feeds a photosensitive film in the sub-scanning direction.

Claim 14

A system for performing magnification conversion in an image reproducing system, in which image data obtained from scanning of an original picture in main and sub-scanning directions are written into a memory and the image data are used for driving a recording beam in order to record a reproduction image, comprising: (a) a means for feeding an input scanning beam in the sub-scanning direction in steps in one of several pitches according to a specified magnification ratio and scanning an original picture in a skipped or overlapped fashion by using said input scanning beam according to the specified magnification ratio; and (b) a means for feeding a recording beam in the sub-scanning direction in a constant pitch for scanning pixels, including: (1) a magnification ratio setting circuit; (2) a rate multiplier to determine scanning lines to be skipped over or to be read again according to the specified magnification ratio input from the magnification ratio setting circuit; (3) a step motor controlling circuit which controls a step-motor according to the output of the multiplier; and (4) a step motor which feeds a photosensitive film in the sub-scanning direction.

Claim 19

A system for performing magnification conversion in an image reproducing system, in which image data obtained by scanning an original picture by an input scanning beam in main and sub-scanning directions are written in a plurality of memory locations identified by a plurality of addresses and the image data are used for driving a recording beam in order to record a reproduction image, comprising: (a) a feeding means for feeding the input scanning beam in the sub-scanning direction in a step-like manner in several pitches according to a specified magnification ratio; (b) a feeding means for feeding a recording beam in a step-like manner in the sub-scanning direction for recording pixels; (c) a means for designating addresses of the stored data for output to the feeding means for said recording beam; and further comprising means for varying the size of the input scanning beam at least in the sub-scanning direction in a step-wise manner according to the specified magnification ratio.

Claim 20

A system for performing magnification conversion in an image reproducing system, in which image data obtained by scanning an original picture by an input scanning beam in main and sub-scanning directions are written in a plurality of memory locations identified by a plurality of addresses and the image data are used for driving a recording beam in order to record a reproduction image, comprising: (a) a feeding means for feeding the input scanning beam in the sub-scanning direction in a step-like manner in several pitches according to a specified magnification ratio; (b) a feeding means for feeding a recording beam in a step-like manner in the sub-scanning direction for recording pixels; (c) a means for designating addresses of the stored data for output to the feeding means for said recording beam; and further comprising means for varying the size of the input scanning beam at least in the sub-scanning direction in a step-wise manner according to the specified magnification ratio.

Claim 21

A system for performing magnification conversion in an image reproducing system, in which image data obtained from scanning of an original picture in main and sub-scanning directions are written into a memory and the image data are used for driving a recording beam in order to record a reproduction image, comprising: (a) a means for feeding an input scanning beam in the sub-scanning direction in steps in one of several pitches according to a specified magnification ratio and scanning an original picture in a skipped or overlapped fashion by using said input scanning beam according to the specified magnification ratio; and (b) a means for feeding a recording beam in the sub-scanning direction in a constant pitch for scanning pixels, and (c) means for varying the size of the input scanning beam at least in the sub-scanning direction in a step-wise manner according to the specified ratio.

Claim 22

A system for performing magnification conversion in an image reproducing system, in which image data obtained from scanning of an original picture in main and sub-scanning directions are written into a memory and the image data are used for driving a recording beam in order to record a reproduction image, comprising: (a) a means for feeding an input scanning beam in the sub-scanning direction in steps in one of several pitches according to a specified magnification ratio and scanning an original picture in a skipped or overlapped fashion by using said input scanning beam according to the specified magnification ratio; and (b) a means for feeding a recording beam in the sub-scanning direction in a constant pitch for scanning pixels, and (c) means for varying the size of the input scanning beam at least in the sub-scanning direction in a step-wise manner according to the specified ratio.