Graphics processing apparatus for smoothing edges of images

Claim 1

An apparatus for smoothing edges of images, comprising: first detection means for determining with respect to each pixel of an image, whether or not an edge of the image starts on a scanline when each scanline of the image is scanned, and for defining a control datum based on whether or not said edge starts on the scanline; second detection means for detecting a duration of beam power modulation corresponding to edge pixels of the image on the scanline, said edge pixels being intersected by a line defined by said image, and for defining a duration datum indicating said duration of beam power modulation; third detection means for detecting an outermost edge pixel in said edge pixels on the scanline; means for defining a beam power datum indicating an intensity level of light beam power corresponding to said outermost edge pixel detected by said third detection means; output means for outputting said image for each scanline, the output means having a light source for emitting a light beam; and control means for modulating light beam power of said light source in a continuous range from said intensity level indicated by said beam power datum to a predetermined level with respect to said edge pixels on the scanline, so that an image with smooth edges is generated by modulating the light beam power in accordance with the control datum and the duration datum.

Claim 2

An apparatus for smoothing edges of images, comprising: first detection means for determining with respect to each pixel of an image, whether or not an edge of the image starts on a scanline when each scanline of the image is scanned, and for defining a control datum based on whether or not said edge starts on the scanline; second detection means for detecting a duration of beam power modulation corresponding to edge pixels of the image on the scanline, said edge pixels being intersected by a line defined by said image, and for defining a duration datum indicating said duration of beam power modulation; third detection means for detecting an outermost edge pixel in said edge pixels on the scanline; means for defining a beam power datum indicating an intensity level of light beam power corresponding to said outermost edge pixel detected by said third detection means; output means for outputting said image for each scanline, the output means having a light source for emitting a light beam; and control means for modulating light beam power of said light source in a continuous range from said intensity level indicated by said beam power datum to a predetermined level with respect to said edge pixels on the scanline, so that an image with smooth edges is generated by modulating the light beam power in accordance with the control datum and the duration datum.

Claim 8

An apparatus for smoothing edges of images described in vector data format, comprising: first detection means for determining, with respect to a target pixel of an image described in vector data format, whether or not an edge of the image starts on a scanline when each scanline of the image is scanned, and for defining a control datum based on whether or not said edge starts on the scanline; second detection means for detecting a duration of beam power modulation corresponding to edge pixels of the image on the scanline, said edge pixels being intersected by a vector line defined by said image, and for defining a duration datum indicating said duration of beam power modulation; subpixel detection means for detecting a position within the target pixel at which the beam power modulation starts or ends with respect to said edge pixels, and for defining a subpixel datum indicating said position within the target pixel; edge pixel detection means for detecting whether a pixel included in said edge pixels is a left-hand edge pixel or a right-hand edge pixel; output means for outputting said image for each scanline, the output means having a light source that emits a light beam through light beam power modulation; and control means for modulating light beam power of said light source in a continuous range from a minimum intensity level of said light source to a reference level with respect to said edge pixels on the scanline, so that an image with smooth edges is generated by said output means by modulating the light beam power in accordance with the control datum and the duration datum; wherein said control means includes means for modulating said light beam power from said minimum intensity level continuously to said reference level with respect to said edge pixels when the pixel included in the edge pixels is detected as being a left-hand edge pixel, and, when the pixel is detected as being a right-hand edge pixel, for modulating said light beam power from said reference level continuously to said minimum intensity level with respect to said edge pixels.

Claim 9

An apparatus for smoothing edges of images described in vector data format, comprising: first detection means for determining, with respect to a target pixel of an image described in vector data format, whether or not an edge of the image starts on a scanline when each scanline of the image is scanned, and for defining a control datum based on whether or not said edge starts on the scanline; second detection means for detecting a duration of beam power modulation corresponding to edge pixels of the image on the scanline, said edge pixels being intersected by a vector line defined by said image, and for defining a duration datum indicating said duration of beam power modulation; subpixel detection means for detecting a position within the target pixel at which the beam power modulation starts or ends with respect to said edge pixels, and for defining a subpixel datum indicating said position within the target pixel; edge pixel detection means for detecting whether a pixel included in said edge pixels is a left-hand edge pixel or a right-hand edge pixel; output means for outputting said image for each scanline, the output means having a light source that emits a light beam through light beam power modulation; and control means for modulating light beam power of said light source in a continuous range from a minimum intensity level of said light source to a reference level with respect to said edge pixels on the scanline, so that an image with smooth edges is generated by said output means by modulating the light beam power in accordance with the control datum and the duration datum; wherein said control means includes means for modulating said light beam power from said minimum intensity level continuously to said reference level with respect to said edge pixels when the pixel included in the edge pixels is detected as being a left-hand edge pixel, and, when the pixel is detected as being a right-hand edge pixel, for modulating said light beam power from said reference level continuously to said minimum intensity level with respect to said edge pixels.

Claim 10

An apparatus for smoothing edges of images described in vector data format, comprising: first detection means for determining, with respect to a target pixel of an image described in vector data format, whether or not an edge of the image starts on a scanline when each scanline of the image is scanned, and for defining a control datum depending on whether or not said edge starts on the scanline; second detection means for detecting a duration of beam power modulation corresponding to edge pixels of the image on the scanline, said edge pixels being intersected by a line defined by said image, and for defining a duration datum indicating said duration of beam power modulation; subpixel detection means for detecting a position within the target pixel at which the beam power modulation starts or ends with respect to said edge pixels, and for defining a subpixel datum indicating said position; intensity detection means for detecting a first level of intensity corresponding to a background pixel immediately preceding said edge pixels on the scanline, and for detecting a second level of intensity corresponding to a pixel immediately following said edge pixels on the scanline; output means for outputting said image for each scanline, the output means having a light source which emits a light beam through light beam power modulation; and control means for modulating light beam power of said light source in a continuous range from a minimum intensity level of said light source to a reference level with respect to said edge pixels on the scanline, so that an image with smooth edges is generated by said output means by modulating the light beam power in accordance with the control datum and the duration datum, wherein said control means includes means for modulating said light beam power from said minimum intensity level continuously to said reference level with respect to said edge pixels when the pixel included in the edge pixels is detected as being a left-hand edge pixel, and, when the pixel is detected as being a right-hand edge pixel, for modulating said light beam power from said reference level continuously to said minimum intensity level with respect to said edge pixels.

Claim 11

An apparatus for smoothing edges of images described in vector data format, comprising: first detection means for determining, with respect to a target pixel of an image described in vector data format, whether or not an edge of the image starts on a scanline when each scanline of the image is scanned, and for defining a control datum depending on whether or not said edge starts on the scanline; second detection means for detecting a duration of beam power modulation corresponding to edge pixels of the image on the scanline, said edge pixels being intersected by a line defined by said image, and for defining a duration datum indicating said duration of beam power modulation; subpixel detection means for detecting a position within the target pixel at which the beam power modulation starts or ends with respect to said edge pixels, and for defining a subpixel datum indicating said position; intensity detection means for detecting a first level of intensity corresponding to a background pixel immediately preceding said edge pixels on the scanline, and for detecting a second level of intensity corresponding to a pixel immediately following said edge pixels on the scanline; output means for outputting said image for each scanline, the output means having a light source which emits a light beam through light beam power modulation; and control means for modulating light beam power of said light source in a continuous range from a minimum intensity level of said light source to a reference level with respect to said edge pixels on the scanline, so that an image with smooth edges is generated by said output means by modulating the light beam power in accordance with the control datum and the duration datum, wherein said control means includes means for modulating said light beam power from said minimum intensity level continuously to said reference level with respect to said edge pixels when the pixel included in the edge pixels is detected as being a left-hand edge pixel, and, when the pixel is detected as being a right-hand edge pixel, for modulating said light beam power from said reference level continuously to said minimum intensity level with respect to said edge pixels.

Claim 13

An apparatus for smoothing edges of images described in dot matrix format, comprising: comparator means for generating compensation data when a dot matrix of an image described in dot matrix format accords with a predetermined standard pattern; first means for generating a control datum indicating a start or an end of light beam power modulation by determining whether or not an edge of the image starts on a scanline, with respect to a target pixel of the image, said control datum being contained in said compensation data of said comparator data means; second means for generating a duration datum indicating a duration of beam power modulation corresponding to edge pixels of the image, said duration datum being contained in the compensation data of said comparator means; output means for outputting an image for each scanline, the output means having a light source which emits a light beam through light beam power modulation; and control means for modulating light beam power of said light source in a continuous range from a minimum level of intensity of the light source to a second level of the intensity thereof for the duration indicated by the duration datum, said light beam power modulation starting from a position indicated by the control datum, so that an image with smooth edges is output by said output means.

Claim 14

An apparatus for smoothing edges of images described in dot matrix format, comprising: comparator means for generating compensation data when a dot matrix of an image described in dot matrix format accords with a predetermined standard pattern; first means for generating a control datum indicating a start or an end of light beam power modulation by determining whether or not an edge of the image starts on a scanline, with respect to a target pixel of the image, said control datum being contained in said compensation data of said comparator data means; second means for generating a duration datum indicating a duration of beam power modulation corresponding to edge pixels of the image, said duration datum being contained in the compensation data of said comparator means; output means for outputting an image for each scanline, the output means having a light source which emits a light beam through light beam power modulation; and control means for modulating light beam power of said light source in a continuous range from a minimum level of intensity of the light source to a second level of the intensity thereof for the duration indicated by the duration datum, said light beam power modulation starting from a position indicated by the control datum, so that an image with smooth edges is output by said output means.