Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for binarizing quantized picture elements obtained by scanning a picture image comprising: first means for selecting a picture element to be binarized; second means for selecting at least two additional picture elements located in said picture image in the immediate vicinity of said selected picture element; third means for identifying at least one of the maximum and minimum levels of said additional picture elements; fourth means for adjusting the level of said selected picture element to be binarized as a function of both the level of said selected picture element and said at least one of said maximum and minimum levels of said additional picture elements to emphasize the nature of the tone of said selected picture element; and fifth means for binarizing said adjusted level of said selected picture element according to a predetermined threshold value.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for binarizing quantized picture elements obtained by scanning a picture image comprising: first means for selecting a picture element to be binarized; second means for selecting at least two additional picture elements located in said picture image in the immediate vicinity of said selected picture element; third means for identifying at least one of the maximum and minimum levels of said additional picture elements; fourth means for adjusting the level of said selected picture element to be binarized as a function of both the level of said selected picture element and said at least one of said maximum and minimum levels of said additional picture elements to emphasize the nature of the tone of said selected picture element; and fifth means for binarizing said adjusted level of said selected picture element according to a predetermined threshold value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system of claim 1 wherein said third and fourth means each comprise a separate means for calculating.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system of claim 1 wherein said third and fourth means each comprise a respective read only memory.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
108 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said third means selects both the maximum and minimum levels of said additional picture elements, and said fourth means executes the calculations; OS=2ADS-C.sub.2 when ADS≧C 1 , C 2 ; OS=ADS ps when C 1 >ADS≧C 2 ; and OS=2ADS-C.sub.1 when C 1 , C 2 >ADS, where C 1 represents the level of said additional picture elements having a maximum signal level, C 2 represents the level of said additional picture elements having a minimum signal level, ADS represents the level of said selected picture element to be binarized, and OS represents the adjusted level of said selected picture element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system according to claim 4 wherein said fourth means sets a second predetermined threshold level having a level CO when ADS≧C 1 , C 2 , and, when ADS≧C, C 2 said fourth means executes a calculation: OS=2ADS-C.sub.2 only when ADS≧CO, and executes a calculation: OS=ADS when ADS<CO.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
144 words
A system according to claim 4 or 5 wherein said third means comprises a first ROM (read only memory) in which the level C 1 of the additional picture element whose level is a maximum and the level C 2 of the additional picture element whose level is a minimum are prestored as a table, said at least two additional picture elements are applied to said first ROM as address information to read out corresponding levels C 1 and C 2 , and said fourth means comprises a second ROM in which picture image signals representing said adjusted level OS of said selected picture element are prestored as a table, with said levels C 1 and C 2 read out from said first ROM and said selected picture element applied to said second ROM as address information to read out said adjusted level OS.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said second means selects consecutive picture elements located in said image on the same line and immediately before said selected picture element to be binarized.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 7 wherein said second means comprises a plurality of latch means which temporarily latch said quantized picture elements while sequentially shifting the same according to a picture image clock.