US4876610A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image processing apparatus with binarization-error dispersal
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1987-12-23
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Granted: 1989-10-24
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Expires: 2007-12-23
Abstract
Abstract An image processing apparatus for digitizing an analog image by dispersing the digitizing error to the surrounding areas. The characteristics or edge of the analog image are identified, and the error dispersing area is varied according to the result of identification, thus enabling reproduction of the image with high quality regardless of the nature of the original image.
Inventors
- 👤 Hidefumi Ohsawa
- 👤 Akihiro Katayama
- 👤 Hiroshi Hosokawa
- 👤 Izuru Sunohara
- 👤 Masahiko Yoshimoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:43
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/52; G; G06; G06V; G06V30/00; G06V30/10; G06V30/16; G06V30/162; H04N1/40; H04N1/405; H04N1/4051; H04N1/4052
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: digitizing means for digitizing image data; process means for dispersing an error, generated at the digitizing by said digitizing means, in an area around the image data; and discrimination means for discriminating whether the image data corresponds to an edge area or a non-edge area, wherein said process means is adapted to enlarge the area for error dispersion in a case of processing the image data of the non-edge area, as compared with a case of processing the image data of the edge area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: digitizing means for digitizing image data; process means for dispersing an error, generated at the digitizing by said digitizing means, in an area around the image data; and discrimination means for discriminating whether the image data corresponds to an edge area or a non-edge area, wherein said process means is adapted to enlarge the area for error dispersion in a case of processing the image data of the non-edge area, as compared with a case of processing the image data of the edge area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said digitizing means is adapted to binary-digitize density data of an image with a predetermined threshold value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the error, to be dispersed by said process means in the area around the image data, is a difference between the density data of the image and output density data after the binary digitizing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said process means is adapted to disperse the error in the area around the image data by means of a matrix, and to vary the area for error dispersion by varying the matrix.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
106 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: digitizing means for digitizing image data; process means for dispersing an error, generated at the digitizing by said digitizing means, in an area around the image data; and discrimination means for discriminating a density level of an image, wherein said process means is adapted to vary the area for error dispersion according to a result of discrimination performed by said discrimination means, and wherein said process means is adapted to make the area of error dispersion larger when the density level for the image is smaller than a predetermined value, than when the density level is larger than the predetermined value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
106 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: digitizing means for digitizing image data; process means for dispersing an error, generated at the digitizing by said digitizing means, in an area around the image data; and discrimination means for discriminating a density level of an image, wherein said process means is adapted to vary the area for error dispersion according to a result of discrimination performed by said discrimination means, and wherein said process means is adapted to make the area of error dispersion larger when the density level for the image is smaller than a predetermined value, than when the density level is larger than the predetermined value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said digitizing means is adapted to binary-digitize density data of the image with a predetermined threshold value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the error, to be dispersed by said process means in the area around the image data, is a difference between the density data of the image and output density data after the binary digitizing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said process means is adapted to disperse the error in the area around the image data by means of a matrix, and to vary the area for error dispersion by varying the matrix.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
105 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: digitizing means for digitizing image data; process means for dispersing an error, generated at the digitizing by said digitizing means, in an area around the image data; and discrimination means for discriminating a density level of an image, wherein said process means is adapted to vary the area for error dispersion according to a result of discrimination of said discrimination means, and wherein said process means is adapted to make the area for error dispersion larger when the density level of the image is larger than a predetermined value, than when the density level is smaller than the predetermined value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
105 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: digitizing means for digitizing image data; process means for dispersing an error, generated at the digitizing by said digitizing means, in an area around the image data; and discrimination means for discriminating a density level of an image, wherein said process means is adapted to vary the area for error dispersion according to a result of discrimination of said discrimination means, and wherein said process means is adapted to make the area for error dispersion larger when the density level of the image is larger than a predetermined value, than when the density level is smaller than the predetermined value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said digitizing means is adapted to binary digitize density data of the image with a predetermined threshold value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the error, to be dispersed by said process means in the area around the image data, is a difference between the density data of the image and output density data after the binary digitizing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said process means is adapted to disperse the error in the area around the image data by means of a matrix, and to vary the area for error dispersion by varying said matrix.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
85 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: digitizing image data; dispersing an error, generated in the digitizing in said digitizing step, into an area around the image data; and discriminating whether the image data corresponds to an edge area or a non-edge area, wherein, in said dispersing step, the area for error dispersion is made larger in a case of processing the image data of a non-edge area of an image than in a case of processing the image data of an edge area.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
85 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: digitizing image data; dispersing an error, generated in the digitizing in said digitizing step, into an area around the image data; and discriminating whether the image data corresponds to an edge area or a non-edge area, wherein, in said dispersing step, the area for error dispersion is made larger in a case of processing the image data of a non-edge area of an image than in a case of processing the image data of an edge area.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein, in said digitizing step, the density data of the image is being digitized with a predetermined threshold value.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein the error, to be dispersed in the area around the image data in said dispersing step, is a difference between the density data of the image and the output density data after the binary digitizing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein, in said dispersing step, the error in the area around the image data is dispersed by means of a matrix, and the area for error dispersion is varied by varying the matrix.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
106 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: digitizing image data; dispersing an error, generated in the digitizing in said digitizing step, into an area around the image data; and discriminating a density level of an image; wherein said dispersing step is adapted to vary the area for error dispersion according to a result of discrimination in said discriminating step, and wherein, in said dispersing step, the area for error dispersion is made larger in a case in which the density level of the image is smaller than a predetermined value, than in a case in which the density level is larger than the predetermined value.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
106 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: digitizing image data; dispersing an error, generated in the digitizing in said digitizing step, into an area around the image data; and discriminating a density level of an image; wherein said dispersing step is adapted to vary the area for error dispersion according to a result of discrimination in said discriminating step, and wherein, in said dispersing step, the area for error dispersion is made larger in a case in which the density level of the image is smaller than a predetermined value, than in a case in which the density level is larger than the predetermined value.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 18, wherein, in said digitizing step, the density data of the image is binary digitized with a predetermined threshold value.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 18, wherein the error, to be dispersed in the area around the image data in said dispersing step, is a difference between the density data of the image and the output density data after the binary digitizing.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 19, wherein, in said dispersing step, the error is dispersed in the area round the image data by means of a matrix, and the area for error dispersion is varied by varying the matrix.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
106 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: digitizing image data; dispersing an error, generated in the digitizing in said digitizing step, into an area around the image data; and discriminating a density level of an image, wherein said dispersing step is adapted to vary the area for error dispersion according to a result of discrimination in said discriminating step, and wherein, in said dispersing step, the area for error dispersion is made larger in a case in which the density level of the image is larger than a predetermined value, than in a case in which the density level is smaller than the predetermined value.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
106 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: digitizing image data; dispersing an error, generated in the digitizing in said digitizing step, into an area around the image data; and discriminating a density level of an image, wherein said dispersing step is adapted to vary the area for error dispersion according to a result of discrimination in said discriminating step, and wherein, in said dispersing step, the area for error dispersion is made larger in a case in which the density level of the image is larger than a predetermined value, than in a case in which the density level is smaller than the predetermined value.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 21, wherein said digitizing step is adapted to binary-digitize the density data of the image with a predetermined threshold value.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 22, wherein the error, to be dispersed in the area around the image data in said dispersing step, is a difference between the density data of the image and the output density data after the binary digitizing.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 23, wherein, in said dispersing step, the error is dispersed in the area around the image data by means of a matrix, and the area for error dispersion is varied by varying the matrix.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
82 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: digitizing means for digitizing image data; process means for dispersing an error, generated at the digitizing by said digitizing means, in an area around the image data; and discrimination means for discriminating whether the image data exists in an edge area or a non-edge area, wherein said process means is adapted to vary the area in which the error is dispersed, in accordance with whether the image data exists in an edge area or a non-edge area.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
82 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: digitizing means for digitizing image data; process means for dispersing an error, generated at the digitizing by said digitizing means, in an area around the image data; and discrimination means for discriminating whether the image data exists in an edge area or a non-edge area, wherein said process means is adapted to vary the area in which the error is dispersed, in accordance with whether the image data exists in an edge area or a non-edge area.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said digitizing means is adapted to binary-digitize density data of an image with a predetermined threshold value.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the error, to be dispersed by said process means in the area around the image data, is a difference between the density data of the image and the output density data after the binary digitizing.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said process means is adapted to disperse the error in the area around the image data by means of a matrix, and to vary the area for error dispersion by varying the matrix.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
96 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: digitizing means for digitizing image data; process means for dispersing an error, generated at the digitizing by said digitizing means, in an area around the image data; and generating means for generating a signal representing whether an area quantized by said digitizing means is an edge area or a non-edge area. wherein said process means makes larger the area for error dispersion in a case in which the signal representing non-edge area is generated by said generating means than in a case in which the signal representing edge area is generated.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
96 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: digitizing means for digitizing image data; process means for dispersing an error, generated at the digitizing by said digitizing means, in an area around the image data; and generating means for generating a signal representing whether an area quantized by said digitizing means is an edge area or a non-edge area. wherein said process means makes larger the area for error dispersion in a case in which the signal representing non-edge area is generated by said generating means than in a case in which the signal representing edge area is generated.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said digitizing means is adapted to binary-digitize density data of an image with a predetermined threshold value.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the error, to be dispersed by said process means in the area around the image data, is a difference between the density data of the image and the output density data after the binary digitizing.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said process means is adapted to disperse the error in the area around the image data by means of a matrix, and to vary the area for error dispersion by varying the matrix.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising conversion means for inputting analog image data and converting the analog image data into digital image data, and wherein said digitizing means quantizes the digital image data.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
133 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting digital image data; binarization means for binarizing the digital image data input by said input means by using a predetermined threshold value; calculation means for calculating a difference between the digital image data input by said input means and output data after the digital image data has been binarized, to provide error data; process means for processing such that the error data provided by said calculation means is dispersed to the peripheral digital image data; and discrimination means for discriminating a feature of an area in which the digital image data input by said input means exists, wherein said process means is adapted to vary the area in which the error data is dispersed, in accordance with the feature discriminated by said discrimination means.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
133 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting digital image data; binarization means for binarizing the digital image data input by said input means by using a predetermined threshold value; calculation means for calculating a difference between the digital image data input by said input means and output data after the digital image data has been binarized, to provide error data; process means for processing such that the error data provided by said calculation means is dispersed to the peripheral digital image data; and discrimination means for discriminating a feature of an area in which the digital image data input by said input means exists, wherein said process means is adapted to vary the area in which the error data is dispersed, in accordance with the feature discriminated by said discrimination means.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said input means further comprises conversion means for converting analog image data obtained by reading an original image into the digital image data.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said discrimination means discriminates whether the area in which the digital image data exists is an edge area or a non-edge area.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said process means varies the area in which the error data is dispersed, in accordance with whether the area in which the digital image data exists is an edge area or a non-edge area.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-10-23 | 1993-04-24 | 1993-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-10-23 | 1997-04-24 | 1997-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-10-23 | 2001-04-24 | 2001-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |