Image processing apparatus

Claim 2

An image processing apparatus comprising: image data input means; processing means for processing the image data inputted from said image data input means to produce a reproduction signal, said processing means being capable of processing the image data in at least several processing modes; selection means for selecting a transfer destination of the reproduction signal from said processing means; and switching means for switching the processing mode of said processing means in accordance with the selection by said selection means.

Claim 3

An image processing apparatus comprising: binarization means for binarizing input image input image data; selection means for selecting a transfer destination of a binary signal from said binarization means; and switching means for switching a binarization mode of said binarization means in accordance with selection by said selection means, wherein said selection means selects the transmission of the binary signal from said binarization means to image forming means for forming an image by said binary signal or the transmission of the binary signal to compression means for compressing the binary signal.

Claim 4

An image processing apparatus comprising: binarization means for binarizing input image input image data; selection means for selecting a transfer destination of a binary signal from said binarization means; and switching means for switching a binarization mode of said binarization means in accordance with selection by said selection means, wherein said selection means selects the transmission of the binary signal from said binarization means to image forming means for forming an image by said binary signal or the transmission of the binary signal to compression means for compressing the binary signal.

Claim 5

An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said processing means includes first half-tone processing means for half-tone processing the image data by utilizing a first threshold matrix, and second half-tone processing means for half-tone processing the image data by utilizing a second threshold matrix different from said first threshold matrix.

Claim 6

An image processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising discrimination means for discriminating the content of the image data, wherein said processing means further includes non-half-tone processing means for non-half-tone processing the image data, and one of said first and second half-tone processing means and said non-half-tone processing means is selected in accordance with the discrimination result of said discrimination means and the selection by said selection means.

Claim 7

An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising discrimination means for discriminating the content of the image data, wherein said switching means switches the processing mode of said processing means in accordance with the discrimination result of said discrimination means and the selection by said selection means.

Claim 8

An image processing apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said discrimination means includes first discrimination means for discriminating the content of the image data by a first method and second discrimination means for discriminating the content of the image data by a second method, and a discrimination result of said first or said second discrimination means is used in accordance with the selection by said selection means.

Claim 9

An image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said selection means selects the transmission of the reproduction signal from said processing means to image forming means for forming an image by said reproduction signal or the transmission of the reproduction signal to compression means for compressing the reproduction signal.

Claim 10

An image processing apparatus comprising: image data input means; processing means for processing image data inputted from said image data input means to produce a reproduction signal; selection means for selecting a recipient of the reproduction signal from said processing means; discrimination means for discriminating the content of the image data input from said image data input means; and switching means for switching a processing mode of said processing means in accordance with a discrimination result of said discrimination means and a selection by said selection means.

Claim 11

An image processing apparatus comprising: image data input means; processing means for processing image data inputted from said image data input means to produce a reproduction signal; selection means for selecting a recipient of the reproduction signal from said processing means; discrimination means for discriminating the content of the image data input from said image data input means; and switching means for switching a processing mode of said processing means in accordance with a discrimination result of said discrimination means and a selection by said selection means.

Claim 12

An image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said processing means includes first half-tone processing means for half-tone processing the image data to produce a first reproduction signal, second half-tone processing means for half-tone processing the image data to produce a second reproduction signal and non-half-tone processing means for non-half-tone processing the image data to produce a third reproduction signal, and said switching means is adapted to produce one of said first, second and third reproduction signals in accordance with the selection by said selection means and the discrimination result of said discrimination means.

Claim 13

An image processing process according to claim 8, wherein said first and second half-tone processing means half-tone process the image data by using first and second threshold matrixes different from each other to produce first and second binary siganls, respectively.

Claim 14

An image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said second threshold matrix is arranged in such a manner that a compression efficiency is not degraded upon compression processing of said second binary signal.

Claim 15

An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing means includes binarizing means for processing the image data to produce a binary signal.

Claim 16

An image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first and second half-tone processing means produce respective first and second binary signals and the second threshold matrix is arranged in such a manner that a compression efficiency is not degraded upon the compression processing of the second binary signal.

Claim 17

An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said selection means selects the transmission of the reproduction signal from said processing means to image forming means for forming an image by said reproduction signal or the transmission of the reproduction signal to compression means for compressing the reproduction signal.

Claim 18

An image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said selection means selects the transmission of the reproduction signal from said processing means to image forming means for forming an image by said reproduction signal or the transmission of the reproduction signal to compression means for compressing the reproduction signal.