US5267330A
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US
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Image processing apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1990-12-24
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Granted: 1993-11-30
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Expires: 2010-12-24
Abstract
Abstract An image processing apparatus comprises an image data input device and a processor for processing an image data inputted by the input device. The processor includes a binarizing circuit for binarizing the input image data, a counter for counting the binary data outputted from the binarizing circuit and a discrimination circuit for discriminating an image content in accordance with count of the counter.
Inventors
- 👤 Yukio Masuda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:09
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/40062
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: image data input means for successively inputting image data; and processing means for processing image data input by said input means, said processing means further comprising binarizing means for binarizing the input image data to produce binary image data and means for discriminating whether the input image data represents a gray level image on the basis of the binary data output from said binarizing means, wherein said discrimination means further comprises a first discriminating circuit for performing a predetermined operation on the binary data output from said binarizing means and discriminating a content of the image in accordance with the operation result, and a second discriminating circuit for discriminating a content of the image, in a different operation from that of said first discriminating circuit, to correct a discrimination result provided by said first discriminating circuit, by comparing the binary data output from said binarizing means with a predetermined pattern having specific periodicity, and wherein said discrimination means conclusively discriminates a content of the image data by using results of discrimination performed by said first and second discriminating circuits, and wherein said input means and said processing means operate in parallel on different respective image data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: image data input means for successively inputting image data; and processing means for processing image data input by said input means, said processing means further comprising binarizing means for binarizing the input image data to produce binary image data and means for discriminating whether the input image data represents a gray level image on the basis of the binary data output from said binarizing means, wherein said discrimination means further comprises a first discriminating circuit for performing a predetermined operation on the binary data output from said binarizing means and discriminating a content of the image in accordance with the operation result, and a second discriminating circuit for discriminating a content of the image, in a different operation from that of said first discriminating circuit, to correct a discrimination result provided by said first discriminating circuit, by comparing the binary data output from said binarizing means with a predetermined pattern having specific periodicity, and wherein said discrimination means conclusively discriminates a content of the image data by using results of discrimination performed by said first and second discriminating circuits, and wherein said input means and said processing means operate in parallel on different respective image data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said discrimination means divides the binary data into blocks and discriminates the image content block by block, each block comprising a plurality of binary data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said binarizing means includes gray level processing means for gray level processing the input image data to produce gray level processed binary data, and non-gray level processing means for non-gray level processing the input image data to produce non-gray level processed binary data, and wherein said discrimination means selects the gray level processed binary data or the non-gray level processed binary data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first discrimination circuit includes count means for counting the binary data outputted from said non-gray level processing means and discriminates the image content in accordance with the count of said count means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said discrimination means divides said binary data into blocks and discriminates the image content block by block, each block comprising a plurality of binary data, and wherein said first discrimination circuit discriminates that the block is a gray level image area when the binary data in the block all have the value 0 or all have the value 1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said second discrimination circuit compares the binary data outputted from said gray level processing means with a predetermined pattern and discriminates a content of the image in accordance with the comparison result.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said second discrimination circuit includes a counter for comparing the binary data outputted from said gray level processing means with said predetermined pattern and counting the number of occurrences of the coincidence in comparison, and discriminates whether the image is a halftone image or not in accordance with the count result by said counter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said non-gray level processing means binarizes the input image data using one fixed threshold.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said gray level processing means dither processes the input image data using a predetermined threshold matrix to produce binary data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second discrimination circuit discriminates whether the image is halftone image or not, and said discrimination means conclusively discriminates that the image is a halftone image regardless of the discrimination result by said first discrimination circuit when said second discrimination circuit discriminates that the image is a halftone image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
116 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: memory means for storing binary data; discrimination means for discriminating whether or not the binary data represents a gray level image, said discriminating means using a plurality of discrimination methods on the basis of the binary data stored in said memory means to make said discrimination; and output means for outputting the binary data stored in said memory means as data for image reproduction in accordance with a discrimination result provided by said discriminating means, wherein, in one of said plurality of discrimination methods, said discrimination means judges whether or not the binary data represents a gray level image by comparing the binary data with a predetermined pattern having specific periodicity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
116 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: memory means for storing binary data; discrimination means for discriminating whether or not the binary data represents a gray level image, said discriminating means using a plurality of discrimination methods on the basis of the binary data stored in said memory means to make said discrimination; and output means for outputting the binary data stored in said memory means as data for image reproduction in accordance with a discrimination result provided by said discriminating means, wherein, in one of said plurality of discrimination methods, said discrimination means judges whether or not the binary data represents a gray level image by comparing the binary data with a predetermined pattern having specific periodicity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the binary data is binarized in plural modes and the plural modes are different in resolution from each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the plural modes include a first mode of binarization using a fixed threshold and a second mode of binarization using dither thresholds.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said discrimination means divides the binary data into blocks and discriminates image content block by block.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said discrimination means identifies a block as a gray level image area if the binary data in the block are all "0" or are all "1".
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said discrimination means further comprises count means for counting the number of the binary data stored in said memory means having the value 1, and discriminates whether or not the binary data represents a gray level image on the basis of the count counted by said count means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image processing apparatus to claim 11, further comprising correction means for correcting the discrimination result provided by said discrimination means, by using said one discrimination method.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said correction means judges whether or not the binary data represents a gray level image by comparing the binary data with a predetermined pattern, and corrects the discrimination result on the basis of such judgment.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
124 words
An image processing apparatus, comprising: memory means for storing binary image data; discrimination means for discriminating, on the basis of the binary data stored in said memory means, whether or not the binary image data represents a gray level image; correction means for correcting a discrimination result provided by said discrimination means; and output means for outputting the binary image data stored in said memory means as data for image reproduction in accordance with a corrected discrimination result provided by said correction means, wherein said correction means judges whether or not the binary image data represents a gray level image by comparing the binary image data with a predetermined pattern having specific periodicity, and corrects the discrimination result on the basis of such judgment.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
124 words
An image processing apparatus, comprising: memory means for storing binary image data; discrimination means for discriminating, on the basis of the binary data stored in said memory means, whether or not the binary image data represents a gray level image; correction means for correcting a discrimination result provided by said discrimination means; and output means for outputting the binary image data stored in said memory means as data for image reproduction in accordance with a corrected discrimination result provided by said correction means, wherein said correction means judges whether or not the binary image data represents a gray level image by comparing the binary image data with a predetermined pattern having specific periodicity, and corrects the discrimination result on the basis of such judgment.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said discrimination means divides the binary data into blocks and discriminates the image content block by block.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said discrimination means identifies a block as a gray level image area if the binary data in the block are all "0" or are all "1".
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
57 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said discrimination means further comprises count means for counting the number of the binary data stored in said memory means having the value 1, and discriminates whether or not the binary data represents a gray level image on the basis of the count counted by said count means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said memory means stores binary image data binarized in a plurality of modes different in resolution from each other.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
92 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for successively inputting image data; binarization means for binarizing image data input by said input means; discrimination means for discriminating whether or not the image data represents a gray level image on the basis of the image data binarized by said binarization means; and correction means for correcting a discrimination result provided by said discrimination means by comparing the image data with a predetermined pattern having specific periodicity, wherein said input means, binarization means and discrimination means operate in parallel on different respective image data.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
92 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for successively inputting image data; binarization means for binarizing image data input by said input means; discrimination means for discriminating whether or not the image data represents a gray level image on the basis of the image data binarized by said binarization means; and correction means for correcting a discrimination result provided by said discrimination means by comparing the image data with a predetermined pattern having specific periodicity, wherein said input means, binarization means and discrimination means operate in parallel on different respective image data.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said input means comprises a CCD sensor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said binarization means performs binarization using a predetermined threshold.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said discrimination means divides the binary data into blocks and discriminates the image content block by block.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
35 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said discrimination means identifies a block as a gray level image area if the binary data in the block are all "0" or are all "1".
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
57 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said discrimination means further comprises count means for counting the number of the binary data stored in said memory means having the value 1, and discriminates whether or not the binary data represents a gray level image on the basis of the count counted by said count means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
210 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: an image data input step of successively inputting image data; and a processing step of processing image data input in said input step, said processing step further comprising the step of binarizing the input image data to produce binary image data and the step of discriminating whether the input image data represents a gray level image on the basis of the binary data produced in said binarizing step, wherein said discrimination step further comprises a first discriminating step of performing a predetermined operation on the binary data output in said binarizing step and discriminating a content of the image in accordance with the operation result, and a second discriminating step of discriminating a content of the image, in a different operation from that of said first discriminating step, to correct a discrimination result provided in said first discriminating step, by comparing the binary data output in said binarizing step with a predetermined pattern having specific periodicity, and wherein, in said discrimination step, a content of the image data is conclusively discriminated by using results of discrimination performed in said first and second discriminating steps, and wherein said input step and said processing step are performed in parallel on different respective image data.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
210 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: an image data input step of successively inputting image data; and a processing step of processing image data input in said input step, said processing step further comprising the step of binarizing the input image data to produce binary image data and the step of discriminating whether the input image data represents a gray level image on the basis of the binary data produced in said binarizing step, wherein said discrimination step further comprises a first discriminating step of performing a predetermined operation on the binary data output in said binarizing step and discriminating a content of the image in accordance with the operation result, and a second discriminating step of discriminating a content of the image, in a different operation from that of said first discriminating step, to correct a discrimination result provided in said first discriminating step, by comparing the binary data output in said binarizing step with a predetermined pattern having specific periodicity, and wherein, in said discrimination step, a content of the image data is conclusively discriminated by using results of discrimination performed in said first and second discriminating steps, and wherein said input step and said processing step are performed in parallel on different respective image data.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
104 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: storing binary data in a memory; discriminating whether or not the binary data represents a gray level image, by using a plurality of discrimination methods on the basis of the binary data stored in said memory; and outputting the binary data stored in said memory as data for image reproduction in accordance with a discrimination result obtained said discriminating step, wherein one of said plurality of discrimination methods includes the step of judging whether or not the binary data represents a gray level image, by comparing the binary data with a predetermined pattern having specific periodicity.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
104 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: storing binary data in a memory; discriminating whether or not the binary data represents a gray level image, by using a plurality of discrimination methods on the basis of the binary data stored in said memory; and outputting the binary data stored in said memory as data for image reproduction in accordance with a discrimination result obtained said discriminating step, wherein one of said plurality of discrimination methods includes the step of judging whether or not the binary data represents a gray level image, by comparing the binary data with a predetermined pattern having specific periodicity.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
124 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: storing binary image data in a memory; discriminating, on the basis of the binary image data stored in said memory, whether or not the binary image data represents a gray level image; correcting a discrimination result obtained in said discriminating step; and outputting the binary image data stored in said memory as data for image reproduction in accordance with a corrected discrimination result obtained in said correcting step, wherein said correcting step comprises the step of judging whether or not the binary image data represents a gray level image by comparing the binary image data with a predetermined pattern having specific periodicity and the step of correcting the discrimination result on the basis of such judgment.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
124 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: storing binary image data in a memory; discriminating, on the basis of the binary image data stored in said memory, whether or not the binary image data represents a gray level image; correcting a discrimination result obtained in said discriminating step; and outputting the binary image data stored in said memory as data for image reproduction in accordance with a corrected discrimination result obtained in said correcting step, wherein said correcting step comprises the step of judging whether or not the binary image data represents a gray level image by comparing the binary image data with a predetermined pattern having specific periodicity and the step of correcting the discrimination result on the basis of such judgment.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
85 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: successively inputting image data; binarizing image data input in said inputting step; discriminating whether or not the image data represents a gray level image on the basis of the binary image data produced in said binarizing step; and correcting a discrimination result provided in said discriminating step by comparing the image data with a predetermined pattern having specific periodicity, wherein said inputting step, binarizing step and discriminating step are performed in parallel on different respective image data.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
85 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: successively inputting image data; binarizing image data input in said inputting step; discriminating whether or not the image data represents a gray level image on the basis of the binary image data produced in said binarizing step; and correcting a discrimination result provided in said discriminating step by comparing the image data with a predetermined pattern having specific periodicity, wherein said inputting step, binarizing step and discriminating step are performed in parallel on different respective image data.
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