US4953012A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image processing system for combining a character image with an image including a gray level
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1988-11-14
•
Granted: 1990-08-28
•
Expires: 2008-11-14
Abstract
Abstract An image processing system includes a first input device for inputting an image signal that may include a plurality of color components, half-tone portions, and line image portions, and a second input device for inputting a character signal. A processor processes the image signal input by the first input device to reproduce a color image from the color components and includes a half-tone processing section for half-tone processing of the image signal. A discriminator discriminates the presence of a specific color component, half-tone portions, and line image portions in the image signal in accordance with the result of discrimination of the specific color component. A selector selects a predetermined sequence for processing by the processor of the image signal having the specific color component to reproduce a color image with the specific color component in accordance with the result of discrimination by said discrimination means. An output device outputs a first signal processed by the half-tone processing section when the discriminator discriminates the presence of half-tone portions in the image signal input by the first input device. The output device further outputs a second signal not processed by the half-tone processing section when either: (a) the discriminator does not discriminate the presence of half-tone portions in the image signal, or (b) the character signal is input by the second input apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 Shunichi Abe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:45
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/387; H04N1/3871
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
An image processing system comprising: first input means for inputting an image signal that may include half-tone portions; second input means for inputting a character signal; process means for processing the image signal inputted by said first input means, said process means including means for half-tone processing the image signal; discrimination means for discriminating the presence of half-tone portions in the image signal inputted by said first input means by analyzing density data of said image signal; and output means for outputting a first signal processed by said half-tone processing means when said discrimination means discriminates the presence of half-tone portions in the image signal input by said first input means and for outputting a second signal not processed by said half-tone processing means when either (a) said discrimination means does not discriminate the presence of half-tone portions in the image signal or (b) the character signal is inputted by said second input means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
An image processing system comprising: first input means for inputting an image signal that may include half-tone portions; second input means for inputting a character signal; process means for processing the image signal inputted by said first input means, said process means including means for half-tone processing the image signal; discrimination means for discriminating the presence of half-tone portions in the image signal inputted by said first input means by analyzing density data of said image signal; and output means for outputting a first signal processed by said half-tone processing means when said discrimination means discriminates the presence of half-tone portions in the image signal input by said first input means and for outputting a second signal not processed by said half-tone processing means when either (a) said discrimination means does not discriminate the presence of half-tone portions in the image signal or (b) the character signal is inputted by said second input means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image processing system according to claim 1, wherein said output means outputs a digital image signal which is a combination of the first signal and the second signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
An image processing system according to claim 2, further comprising means for converting the digital image signal to code data for transmission from said system and means for converting the digital image signal to one-dot-per-pixel bit serial data for reproduction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
An image processing system according to claim 1, wherein said half-tone processing means comprises binarizing means for binarizing the image signal, and the second signal is combined with the first signal after binarization of the image signal by said binarizing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
An image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the image signal corresponds to a plurality of image areas and said discrimination means discriminates the presence of half-tone portions in each of the image areas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
An image processing system according to claim 1, wherein said first input means includes means for optically reading a document to produce the image signal, and wherein said discrimination means discriminates the presence of half-tone portions in the image signal prior to the completion of reading of the document by said reading means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
76 words
An image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising means for scanning a document, wherein said discrimination means discriminates the presence of half-tone portions in the image signal prior to the completion of scanning of the document by said scanning means; said system further comprising print start means for starting a print operation for the first signal and the second signal prior to the completion of the scanning of the document by said scanning means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
An image processing system according to claim 1, wherein said first input means is adapted to input a color image signal, and wherein said second input means is adapted to input a signal of either a specific color or black.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
An image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the character signal from said second input means is supplied to a data line of high bit density, said data line being connected to said discrimination means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
An image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising means for selecting a density of the second signal when the character signal is inputted by said second input means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
161 words
An image processing system comprising: first input means for inputting an image signal that may include half-tone portions; second input means for inputting a character signal; process means for combining the image signal inputted by said first input means with the character signal inputted by said second input means to produce a combined signal, said process means including means for half-tone processing the image signal; discrimination means for discriminating the presence of half-tone portions in the image signal inputted by said first input means; and output means for outputting a first signal processed by said half-tone processing means when said discrimination means discriminates the presence of half-tone portions in the image signal input by said first input means and for outputting a second signal not processed by said half-tone processing means when either (a) said discrimination means does not discriminated the presence of half-tone portions in the image signal or (b) the character signal is inputted by said second input means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
161 words
An image processing system comprising: first input means for inputting an image signal that may include half-tone portions; second input means for inputting a character signal; process means for combining the image signal inputted by said first input means with the character signal inputted by said second input means to produce a combined signal, said process means including means for half-tone processing the image signal; discrimination means for discriminating the presence of half-tone portions in the image signal inputted by said first input means; and output means for outputting a first signal processed by said half-tone processing means when said discrimination means discriminates the presence of half-tone portions in the image signal input by said first input means and for outputting a second signal not processed by said half-tone processing means when either (a) said discrimination means does not discriminated the presence of half-tone portions in the image signal or (b) the character signal is inputted by said second input means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
An image processing system according to claim 11, wherein the character signal is a character code signal and said system further comprises means for converting the character code signal into a binary signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
94 words
A color image processing system comprising: input means for inputting image information which may include a plurality of color components; means for processing said image information to reproduce a color image; discrimination means for discrimination whether the image information inputted by said input means includes a specific color component; and means for selecting a predetermined sequence of operation of said processing means for processing the image information having the specific color component to reproduce a color image with the specific color component in accordance with the result of the discrimination by said discrimination means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
94 words
A color image processing system comprising: input means for inputting image information which may include a plurality of color components; means for processing said image information to reproduce a color image; discrimination means for discrimination whether the image information inputted by said input means includes a specific color component; and means for selecting a predetermined sequence of operation of said processing means for processing the image information having the specific color component to reproduce a color image with the specific color component in accordance with the result of the discrimination by said discrimination means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A color image processing system according to claim 13, wherein said plurality of color components comprise red, green, and blue color components.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A color image processing system according to claim 13, wherein said processing means includes forming means for performing image formation relating to said plurality of color components.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A color processing system according to claim 15, wherein said forming means executes an electrophotograhic process.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
A color image processing system according to claim 15, wherein said specific color component corresponds to a non-color.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
A color image processing system according to claim 17, wherein said selecting means selects a sequence in which color components other than the specific color component are not reproduced when said discriminating means discriminates the input of the specific color component.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
A color image processing system according to claim 13, wherein said specific color component corresponds to a non-color.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A color image processing system according to claim 13, wherein said selecting means selects one of a plurality of predetermined sequences.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
107 words
A color image processing system comprising: input means for inputting image information which may include a plurality of color components and which may include half-tone portions and line image portions; means for processing the image information inputted by said input means; first means for discriminating whether the image information inputted by said input means includes a specified one of said plurality of color components; and second means for discriminating the presence of half-tone portions and line image portions in the image information inputted by said input means in accordance with the result of discrimination of a specified color component of the image information by said discrimination means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
107 words
A color image processing system comprising: input means for inputting image information which may include a plurality of color components and which may include half-tone portions and line image portions; means for processing the image information inputted by said input means; first means for discriminating whether the image information inputted by said input means includes a specified one of said plurality of color components; and second means for discriminating the presence of half-tone portions and line image portions in the image information inputted by said input means in accordance with the result of discrimination of a specified color component of the image information by said discrimination means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
A color image processing system according to claim 13 or 21 wherein the specific color component is either black or white.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
60 words
An apparatus comprising: a) means for inputting image information which includes a plurality of color components; b) means for half-tone processing of the image information inputted by said input means; c) means for discriminating a non-color level of the image information; and d) control means for controlling said processing means in accordance with the level discriminated by said discriminating means.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
60 words
An apparatus comprising: a) means for inputting image information which includes a plurality of color components; b) means for half-tone processing of the image information inputted by said input means; c) means for discriminating a non-color level of the image information; and d) control means for controlling said processing means in accordance with the level discriminated by said discriminating means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image processing system according to claim 23, wherein said plurality of color components comprise red, green, and blue color components.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said processing means is a dither process means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said discriminating means discriminates the minimum value of said plurality of color components.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said control means suspends the half-tone processing operation by said processing means when the level discriminated by said discriminating means exceeds a predetermined level.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4034400A
Cited
DE2118720A1
Cited
US3783275A
Cited
US4004079A
Cited
DE2729113A1
Cited
US4214276A
Cited
JPS54118722A
Cited
FR2432728A1
Cited
US4276567A
Cited
US4194221A
Cited
DD157286A1
Cited
US4467348A
Cited
US4474470A
Cited
DE3125699A1
Cited
US4638368A
Cited
DE3043521A1
Cited
US4476486A
Cited
US4694502A
Cited
JPS589462A
Cited
US4496989A
Cited
GB2102240A
Cited
US4549222A
Cited
US4553172A
Cited
US4413287A
Cited
US4642681A
Cited
US4663662A
Cited
US4626923A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-08-27 | 1994-02-26 | 1994-08-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-08-27 | 1998-02-26 | 1998-08-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-08-27 | 2002-02-26 | 2002-08-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |