US4987484A — Halftone image signal processing apparatus in whi…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 119 words

An image signal binarizing process comprising the steps of: inputting an image signal representative of an image; providing a threshold pattern formed by a plurality of pixels, each of said pixels corresponding to a different pixel of the image represented by said image signal; dividing each pixel of said threshold pattern into a plurality of micropixels, each pixel having the same number of micropixels; setting a different threshold value for each of said micropixels; processing said image signal in accordance with said threshold values of said micropixels to produce a binary image signal; and selecting the number of micropixels in one pixel; wherein the size of said micropixels in each pixel is reduced as the number of micropixels increases.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 119 words

An image signal binarizing process comprising the steps of: inputting an image signal representative of an image; providing a threshold pattern formed by a plurality of pixels, each of said pixels corresponding to a different pixel of the image represented by said image signal; dividing each pixel of said threshold pattern into a plurality of micropixels, each pixel having the same number of micropixels; setting a different threshold value for each of said micropixels; processing said image signal in accordance with said threshold values of said micropixels to produce a binary image signal; and selecting the number of micropixels in one pixel; wherein the size of said micropixels in each pixel is reduced as the number of micropixels increases.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

The process according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement of the micropixels in a pixel is the same arrangement for all pixels.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 22 words

The process according to claim 1, wherein said image signal is a color image signal having a plurality of color component signals.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 17 words

The process according to claim 3, wherein said threshold pattern is different for respective color component signals.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 82 words

A halftone image recording apparatus comprising: means for recording an image on a recording medium; means for inputting an image signal representative of an image which includes a plurality of density levels; periodic signal generating means for generating a plurality of types of periodic signals whose widths are different; means for combining at least one periodic signal generated by said generating means with said image signal to form a combined signal; and means for applying said combined signal to said recording means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 82 words

A halftone image recording apparatus comprising: means for recording an image on a recording medium; means for inputting an image signal representative of an image which includes a plurality of density levels; periodic signal generating means for generating a plurality of types of periodic signals whose widths are different; means for combining at least one periodic signal generated by said generating means with said image signal to form a combined signal; and means for applying said combined signal to said recording means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 29 words

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said recording means performs a recording by the use of a light beam and the light beam is modulated by said combined signal.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 33 words

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said means for combining includes means for processing the image signal in accordance with a threshold pattern to produce a binary signal, the threshold pattern being varied.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said image signal is a color image signal including a plurality of color component signals.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 90 words

A halftone image recording apparatus comprising: means for recording an image on a recording medium; means for inputting an image signal representative of an image which includes a plurality of density levels; means for generating a periodical signal, said generating means being able to generate a plurality of types of periodical signals whose periods are different from each other; means for forming a recording signal based on said periodical signal generated by said generating means and said image signal; and means for applying said recording signal to said recording means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 90 words

A halftone image recording apparatus comprising: means for recording an image on a recording medium; means for inputting an image signal representative of an image which includes a plurality of density levels; means for generating a periodical signal, said generating means being able to generate a plurality of types of periodical signals whose periods are different from each other; means for forming a recording signal based on said periodical signal generated by said generating means and said image signal; and means for applying said recording signal to said recording means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 14 words

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said periodical signal is a periodical pulse signal.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said recording means performs a recording by use of a light beam and the light beam is modulated by said recording signal.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 37 words

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said forming means includes means for processing said image signal in accordance with a threshold pattern signal to produce a binary signal, said pattern signal being varied by said generating means.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 30 words

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said inputting means includes a reader for converting an image of an object into an image signal which includes a plurality of density levels.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 43 words

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said image signal is a color image signal having a plurality of color components and said generating means and said applying means execute the generating and applying operations for every color component of said color image signal.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 22 words

Apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising means for manually selecting the type of the periodical signal generated by said generating means.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 14 words

Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said periodical signal is a periodical pulse signal.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said recording means performs recording by use of a light beam and the light beam is modulated by said recording signal.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 132 words

A half-tone image recording apparatus, comprising: image signal generation means for generating an image signal which represents an image including a half-tone image; combined signal formation means for forming a combined signal by combining the image signal generated by said image signal generation means with a periodic signal selected from plural periodic signals, the plural periodic signals respectively having different periods; supply means for supplying the combined signal into a recording device; and changeover means for changing between forming a combined signal corresponding to a first periodic signal and forming a combined signal corresponding to a second periodic signal, said changeover means effecting the change by selecting a different periodic signal from the plural periodic signals, the period of the first periodic signal being different from that of the second periodic signal.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 132 words

A half-tone image recording apparatus, comprising: image signal generation means for generating an image signal which represents an image including a half-tone image; combined signal formation means for forming a combined signal by combining the image signal generated by said image signal generation means with a periodic signal selected from plural periodic signals, the plural periodic signals respectively having different periods; supply means for supplying the combined signal into a recording device; and changeover means for changing between forming a combined signal corresponding to a first periodic signal and forming a combined signal corresponding to a second periodic signal, said changeover means effecting the change by selecting a different periodic signal from the plural periodic signals, the period of the first periodic signal being different from that of the second periodic signal.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 21 words

An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said image signal generating means generates the image signal by reading an objective image.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 39 words

An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said recording device comprises: a light generation device which is driven in response to the combined signal; and a light sensitive body for receiving a light generated by said light generation device.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 24 words

An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the periods of the first and second periodic signals can be expressed substantially by an integer ratio.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 19 words

An apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising: set means for indicating a changeover state of said changeover means.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 33 words

An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said combined signal formation means further comprises a table to which the image signal is input as an address and which stores therein the combined signal.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 43 words

An apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising: means for detecting the light from said light generation device to generate a beam detector signal; and control means for controlling a recording timing of said recording device in accordance with the beam detector signal.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 30 words

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said combining means includes selection means for selecting at least one periodic signal with a selected width from among said plurality of periodic signals.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-01-21	1994-07-23	1995-01-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-01-21	1998-07-23	1999-01-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-01-21	2002-07-23	2003-01-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Halftone image signal processing apparatus in which pixels of a dither threshold pattern are each divided into an operator-selected number of micropixels

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