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Device for judging the type of color of a document

Assignee: Kyocera Mita Industrial Co Ltd
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Filing: 1992-03-10
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Granted: 1994-01-25
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Expires: 2012-03-10
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Abstract

Abstract A device for judging the type of color of a document judges in real time on the basis of read data whether or not a document is a color document or a black-and-white document. It is judged whether or not each pixel is a color pixel on the basis of the read data. When not less than a predetermined number of color pixels are continuously detected, the presence of a color block is detected. When there are not less than a predetermined number of color blocks in one line or there is a relatively long color block having not less than a constant length in one line, it is judged that the line is a color line. When not less than a predetermined number of color lines, for example, 100 color lines are detected, it is judged that the document is a color document.

Inventors

  • 👤 Katsumi Nagata

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 11:15
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/56

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim 231 words
A device for judging the type of color of a document for judging whether a document is a color document containing chromatic color information or a black-and-white document containing only achromatic color information on the basis of document data read, said device comprising: color pixel detecting means, to which the document data read are sequentially applied for each pixel, for judging whether or not the pixel is a color pixel having a chromatic color on the basis of pixel data applied, and for outputting a detection signal upon judging that the pixel is a color pixel; a color block detecting means for detecting the presence of a color block in the event that the color pixel detecting means continuously outputs detection signals whose number is not less than a predetermined number for forming a color block; color line detecting means for judging, in the event that the color block detecting means detects in one line the presence of color blocks whose number is not less than a predetermined number of color blocks for forming a color line, that the line is a color line, and for outputting a detection signal; and color document detecting means for outputting a color document detection signal in the event that the color line detecting means outputs detection signals whose number is not less than a predetermined number of color lines for judging a color document.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 231 words
A device for judging the type of color of a document for judging whether a document is a color document containing chromatic color information or a black-and-white document containing only achromatic color information on the basis of document data read, said device comprising: color pixel detecting means, to which the document data read are sequentially applied for each pixel, for judging whether or not the pixel is a color pixel having a chromatic color on the basis of pixel data applied, and for outputting a detection signal upon judging that the pixel is a color pixel; a color block detecting means for detecting the presence of a color block in the event that the color pixel detecting means continuously outputs detection signals whose number is not less than a predetermined number for forming a color block; color line detecting means for judging, in the event that the color block detecting means detects in one line the presence of color blocks whose number is not less than a predetermined number of color blocks for forming a color line, that the line is a color line, and for outputting a detection signal; and color document detecting means for outputting a color document detection signal in the event that the color line detecting means outputs detection signals whose number is not less than a predetermined number of color lines for judging a color document.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 108 words
The device for judging the type of color of a document according to claim 1, wherein the pixel data applied to the color pixel detecting means includes three types of color data, that is, yellow data, magenta data and cyan data, and the color pixel detecting means comprises difference calculating means for finding the differences in magnitude between the color data, threshold value setting means in which a desired threshold value is set, and comparing means for outputting a color pixel detection signal when any one of the differences calculated by the difference calculating means is larger than the threshold value set in the threshold value setting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 76 words
The device for judging the type of color of a document according to claim 2, wherein the difference calculating means comprises means for calculating the absolute value of the difference in magnitude between the yellow data and the magenta data, means for calculating the absolute value in magnitude between the magenta data and the cyan data, and means for calculating the absolute value of the difference in magnitude between the cyan data and the yellow data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 40 words
The device for judging the type of color of a document according to claim 2, wherein three threshold values to be respectively compared with the differences in magnitude between the color data are set in the threshold value setting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 67 words
The device for judging the type of color of a document according to claim 2, which further comprises longitudinal line reading means for sequentially reading the document from its one end side toward the opposed end side, and color data processing means for processing for each pixel a read output of the longitudinal line reading means to be data including yellow data, magenta data and cyan data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 51 words
The device for judging the type of color of a document according to claim 5, wherein the line reading means outputs one line signal in synchronization with the start or the termination of reading of one line, so that one line is determined on the basis of the one line signal.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 218 words
A device for judging the type of color of a document for judging whether a document is a color document containing chromatic color information or a black-and-white document containing only achromatic color information on the basis of document data read, said device comprising: color pixel detecting means, to which the document data read are sequentially applied for each pixel, for judging whether or not the pixel is a color pixel having a chromatic color on the basis of pixel data applied, and for outputting a detection signal upon judging that the pixel is a color pixel; long color block detecting means for detecting the presence of a long color block in the event that the color pixel detecting means continuously outputs detection signals whose number is not less than a predetermined number of pixels for forming a color line; color line detecting means for judging in the event that there is a detection output of the long color block detecting means in one line, that the line is a color line, and for outputting a detection signal; and color document detecting means for outputting a color document detection signal in the event that the color line detecting means outputs detection signals whose number is not less than a predetermined number of color lines for judging a color document.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 218 words
A device for judging the type of color of a document for judging whether a document is a color document containing chromatic color information or a black-and-white document containing only achromatic color information on the basis of document data read, said device comprising: color pixel detecting means, to which the document data read are sequentially applied for each pixel, for judging whether or not the pixel is a color pixel having a chromatic color on the basis of pixel data applied, and for outputting a detection signal upon judging that the pixel is a color pixel; long color block detecting means for detecting the presence of a long color block in the event that the color pixel detecting means continuously outputs detection signals whose number is not less than a predetermined number of pixels for forming a color line; color line detecting means for judging in the event that there is a detection output of the long color block detecting means in one line, that the line is a color line, and for outputting a detection signal; and color document detecting means for outputting a color document detection signal in the event that the color line detecting means outputs detection signals whose number is not less than a predetermined number of color lines for judging a color document.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 108 words
The device for judging the type of color of a document according to claim 7, wherein the pixel data applied to the color pixel detecting means comprises three types of color data, that is, yellow data, magenta data and cyan data, and the color pixel detecting means comprises difference calculating means for finding the differences in magnitude between the color data, threshold value setting means in which a desired threshold value is set, and comparing means for outputting a color pixel detection signal when any one of the differences calculated in the difference calculating means is larger than the threshold value set in the threshold value setting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 79 words
The device for judging the type of color of a document according to claim 8, wherein the difference calculating means comprises means for calculating the absolute value of the difference in magnitude between the yellow data and the magenta data, means for calculating the absolute value of the difference in magnitude between the magenta data and the cyan data, and means for calculating the absolute value of the difference in magnitude between the cyan data and the yellow data.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 40 words
The device for judging the type of color of a document according to claim 8, wherein three threshold values to be respectively compared with the differences in magnitude between the color data are set in the threshold value setting means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 67 words
The device for judging the type of color of a document according to claim 8, which further comprises longitudinal line reading means for sequentially reading the document from its one end side toward the opposed end side, and color data processing means for processing for each pixel a read output of the longitudinal line reading means to be data including yellow data, magenta data and cyan data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 51 words
The device for judging the type of color of a document according to claim 11, wherein the line reading means outputs one line signal in synchronization with the start or the termination of reading of one line, so that one line is determined on the basis of the one line signal.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 285 words
A device for judging the type of color of a document for judging whether a document is a color document containing chromatic color information or a black-and-white document containing only achromatic color information on the basis of document data read, said device comprising: color pixel detecting means, to which the document data read are sequentially applied for each pixel, for judging whether or not the pixel is a color pixel having a chromatic color on the basis of a pixel data applied, and for outputting a detection signal upon judging that the pixel is a color pixel; color block detecting means for detecting the presence of a color block in the event that the color pixel detecting means continuously outputs detection signals whose number is not less than a predetermined number for forming a color block; long color block detecting means for detecting the presence of a long color block in the event that the color pixel detecting means continuously outputs detection signals whose number is not less than a predetermined number of pixels for forming a color line; color line detecting means for judging in the event that the color block detecting means detects in one line the presence of color blocks whose number is not less than a predetermined number for forming a color line, or that there is a detection output of the long color block detecting means, that the line is a color line, and for outputting a detection signal; and color document detecting means for outputting a color document detection signal in the event that the color line detecting means outputs detection signals whose number is not less than a predetermined number of color lines for judging a color document.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 285 words
A device for judging the type of color of a document for judging whether a document is a color document containing chromatic color information or a black-and-white document containing only achromatic color information on the basis of document data read, said device comprising: color pixel detecting means, to which the document data read are sequentially applied for each pixel, for judging whether or not the pixel is a color pixel having a chromatic color on the basis of a pixel data applied, and for outputting a detection signal upon judging that the pixel is a color pixel; color block detecting means for detecting the presence of a color block in the event that the color pixel detecting means continuously outputs detection signals whose number is not less than a predetermined number for forming a color block; long color block detecting means for detecting the presence of a long color block in the event that the color pixel detecting means continuously outputs detection signals whose number is not less than a predetermined number of pixels for forming a color line; color line detecting means for judging in the event that the color block detecting means detects in one line the presence of color blocks whose number is not less than a predetermined number for forming a color line, or that there is a detection output of the long color block detecting means, that the line is a color line, and for outputting a detection signal; and color document detecting means for outputting a color document detection signal in the event that the color line detecting means outputs detection signals whose number is not less than a predetermined number of color lines for judging a color document.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 108 words
The device for judging the type of color of a document according to claim 13, wherein the pixel data applied to the color pixel detecting means comprises three types of color data, that is, yellow data, magenta data and cyan data, and the color pixel detecting means comprises difference calculating means for finding the differences in magnitude between the color data, threshold value setting means in which a desired threshold value is set, and comparing means for outputting a color pixel detection signal when any one of the differences calculated in the difference calculating means is larger than the threshold value set in the threshold value setting means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 70 words
The device for judging the type of color of a document according to claim 14, wherein the difference calculating means comprises means for calculating the absolute value of the magenta data, means for calculating the absolute value of the difference in magnitude between the magenta data and the cyan data, and means for calculating the absolute value of the difference in magnitude between the cyan data and the yellow data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 40 words
The device for judging the type of color of a document according to claim 14, wherein three threshold values to be respectively compared with the differences in magnitude between the color data are set in the threshold value setting means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 67 words
The device for judging the type of color of a document according to claim 14, which further comprises longitudinal line reading means for sequentially reading the document from its one end side toward the opposed end side, and color data processing means for processing for each pixel a read output of the longitudinal line reading means to be data including yellow data, magenta data and cyan data.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 51 words
The device for judging the type of color of a document according to claim 17, wherein the line reading means outputs one line signal in synchronization with the start or the termination of reading of one line, so that one line is determined on the basis of the one line signal.
Claim 22
Independent Claim 179 words
A device for judging the type of color of a document for judging whether a document is a color document containing chromatic color information or a black-and-white document containing only achromatic color information on the basis of document data read, said device comprising: color pixel detecting means, to which the document data read are sequentially applied for each pixel, for judging whether or not the pixel is a color pixel having a chromatic color on the basis of pixel data applied, and for outputting a detection signal upon judging that the pixel is a color pixel; color block detecting means for detecting the presence of a color block in the event that the color pixel detecting means continuously outputs detection signals whose number is not less than a predetermined number for forming a color block; and color document detecting means for outputting a color document detection signal in the event that the color block detecting means detects the presence of color blocks whose number is not less than a predetermined number of color blocks for judging a color document.
Claim 23
Independent Claim 179 words
A device for judging the type of color of a document for judging whether a document is a color document containing chromatic color information or a black-and-white document containing only achromatic color information on the basis of document data read, said device comprising: color pixel detecting means, to which the document data read are sequentially applied for each pixel, for judging whether or not the pixel is a color pixel having a chromatic color on the basis of pixel data applied, and for outputting a detection signal upon judging that the pixel is a color pixel; color block detecting means for detecting the presence of a color block in the event that the color pixel detecting means continuously outputs detection signals whose number is not less than a predetermined number for forming a color block; and color document detecting means for outputting a color document detection signal in the event that the color block detecting means detects the presence of color blocks whose number is not less than a predetermined number of color blocks for judging a color document.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 108 words
The device for judging the type of color of a document according to claim 19, wherein the pixel data applied to the color pixel detecting means includes three types of color data, that is, yellow data, magenta data and cyan data, and the color pixel detecting means comprises difference calculating means for finding the differences in magnitude between the color data, threshold value setting means in which a desired threshold value is set, and comparing means for outputting a color pixel detection signal when any one of the differences calculated by the difference calculating means is larger than the threshold value set in the threshold value setting means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 79 words
The device for judging the type of color of a document according to claim 20, wherein the difference calculating means comprises means for calculating the absolute value of the difference in magnitude between the yellow data and the magenta data, means for calculating the absolute value of the difference in magnitude between the magenta data and the cyan data, and means for calculating the absolute value of the difference in magnitude between the cyan data and the yellow data.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 40 words
The device for judging the type of color of a document according to claim 20, wherein three threshold values to be respectively compared with the differences in magnitude between the color data are set in the threshold value setting means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4149152A Cited
US4206457A Cited
JPS61166273A Cited
JPS6398671A Cited
US4839738A Cited
JPH01269957A Cited
EP0411918A2 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-01-24 1997-07-26 1998-01-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-01-24 2001-07-26 2002-01-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-01-24 2005-07-26 2006-01-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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