Image processing apparatus comprising judgement means for judging dot photograph image, photograph image and character image

Claim 2

An image processing apparatus comprising: means for generating pixels from a document image; first pixel detecting means for comparing each pixel in a one-dimension direction to a predetermined constant density and identifying each of said pixels having a peak density in the one-dimension direction larger than the predetermined constant density from image data located in a predetermined image area of the document image; second pixel detecting means for comparing each pixel in a one-dimension direction to the predetermined constant density and identifying each of said pixels having peak densities in the two-dimension directions larger than the predetermined constant density from said image data; first counting means for counting a number of said first peak density pixels of one dimension identified by said first pixel detecting means; second counting means for counting a number of said second peak density pixels of two dimensions identified by said second pixel detecting means; means for selecting an image processing method based on said number counted by said first counting means and said number counted by said second counting means; and means for processing said image data according to the image processing method selected by said selecting means; wherein the first and second pixel detecting means are coupled to the pixel generating means.

Claim 3

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said selecting means includes means for comparing the number of said first peak density pixels of one dimension with the number of second peak density pixels of two dimensions.

Claim 4

The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said selecting means includes means for comparing the number of said first peak density pixels of one dimension with a first predetermined value.

Claim 5

The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said selecting means includes means for comparing the number of said second peak density pixels of two dimensions with a second predetermined value.

Claim 6

The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said selecting means includes means for selecting a dot image processing method when the number of first peak density pixels is approximately equal to the number of second peak density pixels and the number of second peak density pixels is greater than said second predetermined value.

Claim 7

The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said selecting means includes means for selecting a character image processing method when the number of first peak density pixels is not approximately equal to the number of second peak density pixels and the number of first peak density pixels is greater than said first predetermined value.

Claim 8

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said selecting means includes means for comparing the number of said first peak density pixels of one dimension with a first predetermined value.

Claim 9

The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said selecting means includes means for comparing the number of said second peak density pixels of two dimensions with a second predetermined value.

Claim 10

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pixel generating means is a CCD image reader.

Claim 11

An image processing apparatus comprising: means for generating pixels from a document image; first pixel detecting means for comparing each pixel in a one-dimension direction to a predetermined constant density and identifying each of said pixels having a peak density in the one-dimension direction larger than the predetermined constant density from image data located in a predetermined image area of the document image; second pixel detecting means for comparing each pixel in two-dimension directions to the predetermined constant density and identifying each of said pixels having peak densities in the two-dimension directions larger than the predetermined constant density from said image data; first counting means for counting a number of said first peak density pixels of one dimension identified by said first pixel detecting means; second counting means for counting a number of said second peak density pixels of two dimensions identified by said second pixel detecting means; means for selecting an image processing method by comparing the number counted by said first counting means with a predetermined first threshold value and comparing the number counted by said second counting means with a predetermined second threshold value; and means for processing said image data according to the image processing method selected by said selecting means; wherein the first and second pixel detecting means are coupled to the pixel generating means.

Claim 12

An image processing apparatus comprising: means for generating pixels from a document image; first pixel detecting means for comparing each pixel in a one-dimension direction to a predetermined constant density and identifying each of said pixels having a peak density in the one-dimension direction larger than the predetermined constant density from image data located in a predetermined image area of the document image; second pixel detecting means for comparing each pixel in two-dimension directions to the predetermined constant density and identifying each of said pixels having peak densities in the two-dimension directions larger than the predetermined constant density from said image data; first counting means for counting a number of said first peak density pixels of one dimension identified by said first pixel detecting means; second counting means for counting a number of said second peak density pixels of two dimensions identified by said second pixel detecting means; means for selecting an image processing method by comparing the number counted by said first counting means with a predetermined first threshold value and comparing the number counted by said second counting means with a predetermined second threshold value; and means for processing said image data according to the image processing method selected by said selecting means; wherein the first and second pixel detecting means are coupled to the pixel generating means.

Claim 13

The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said selecting means includes means for comparing the number of said first peak density pixels of one dimension with the number of second peak density pixels of two dimensions.

Claim 14

The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said selecting means includes means for comparing the number of said first peak density pixels of one dimension with a first predetermined value.

Claim 15

The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said selecting means includes means for comparing the number of said second peak density pixels of two dimensions with a second predetermined value.

Claim 16

The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said selecting means includes means for selecting a dot image processing method when the number of first peak density pixels is approximately equal to the number of second peak density pixels and the number of second peak density pixels is greater than said second predetermined value.

Claim 17

The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said selecting means includes means for selecting a character image processing method when the number of first peak density pixels is not approximately equal to the number of second peak density pixels and the number of first peak density pixels is greater than said first predetermined value.

Claim 18

The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said selecting means includes means for comparing the number of said first peak density pixels of one dimension with a first predetermined value.

Claim 19

The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said selecting means includes means for comparing the number of said second peak density pixels of two dimensions with a second predetermined value.

Claim 20

The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the pixel generating means is a CCD image reader.

Claim 21

An image processing apparatus comprising: means for generating pixels from an image; first detecting means for detecting an image density of each pixel of the image in a first direction; first comparing means for comparing said image density detected by said first detecting means with a predetermined constant value and for outputting a signal when said image density is larger than said predetermined constant value; first counting means for counting a number of said signals output by said first comparing means; second detecting means for detecting said image density of each pixel of said image in a second direction different from said first direction; second comparing means for comparing said image density detected by said second detecting means with said predetermined constant value and for outputting a signal when said image density is larger than said predetermined constant value; second counting means for counting a number of said signals output by said second comparing means; judging means for judging a kind of said image based on the numbers counted by said first counting means and said second counting means; and processing means for performing an image processing based on a judgment result of said judging means; wherein the first and second detecting means are coupled to the pixel generating means.

Claim 22

An image processing apparatus comprising: means for generating pixels from an image; first detecting means for detecting an image density of each pixel of the image in a first direction; first comparing means for comparing said image density detected by said first detecting means with a predetermined constant value and for outputting a signal when said image density is larger than said predetermined constant value; first counting means for counting a number of said signals output by said first comparing means; second detecting means for detecting said image density of each pixel of said image in a second direction different from said first direction; second comparing means for comparing said image density detected by said second detecting means with said predetermined constant value and for outputting a signal when said image density is larger than said predetermined constant value; second counting means for counting a number of said signals output by said second comparing means; judging means for judging a kind of said image based on the numbers counted by said first counting means and said second counting means; and processing means for performing an image processing based on a judgment result of said judging means; wherein the first and second detecting means are coupled to the pixel generating means.

Claim 23

The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said judging means judges that said image is a dot photograph image when said number counted by said first counting means is substantially equal to said number counted by said second counting means and said number counted by said first counting means is larger than a second predetermined value.

Claim 24

The apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said judging means judges that said image is a photograph image, when said number counted by said first counting means is substantially equal to said number counted by said second counting means and said number counted by said first counting means is smaller than said second predetermined value.

Claim 25

The apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said predetermined value is used for judging whether said image is a dot photograph or a photograph image.

Claim 26

The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said judging means judges that said image is a character image when said number counted by said first counting means is larger than said number counted by said second counting means and said number counted by said first counting means is larger than a second predetermined value.

Claim 27

The apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein said judging means judges that said image is a photograph image, when said number counted by said first counting means is substantially equal to said number counted by said second counting means and said number counted by said first counting means is smaller than said second predetermined value.

Claim 28

The apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein said second predetermined value is used for judging whether said image is a character image or a photograph image.

Claim 29

The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the pixel generating means is a CCD image reader.

Claim 30

An image processing apparatus comprising: means for generating pixels from an image; detecting means for detecting an image density of each pixel of the image; first finding means for finding for each pixel a first difference of said image density between said each pixel and other pixels existing in a first direction in said image density detected by said detecting means; first comparing means for comparing a predetermined constant value with said first difference of said image density for each pixel and for outputting a signal when said first difference is larger than said predetermined constant value; first counting means for counting a number of said signals output by said first comparing means; second finding means for finding for each pixel a second difference of said image density between said each pixel and other pixels existing in a second direction in said image density detected by said detecting means; second comparing means for comparing the predetermined constant value to said second difference of said image density and for outputting a signal when said second difference is larger than said predetermined constant value; second counting means for counting a number of said signals output by said second comparing means; judging means for judging a kind of said image based on the numbers counted by said first counting means and said second counting means; and processing means for performing an image processing based on a judgment result of said judging means; wherein the detecting means is coupled to the pixel generating means.

Claim 31

An image processing apparatus comprising: means for generating pixels from an image; detecting means for detecting an image density of each pixel of the image; first finding means for finding for each pixel a first difference of said image density between said each pixel and other pixels existing in a first direction in said image density detected by said detecting means; first comparing means for comparing a predetermined constant value with said first difference of said image density for each pixel and for outputting a signal when said first difference is larger than said predetermined constant value; first counting means for counting a number of said signals output by said first comparing means; second finding means for finding for each pixel a second difference of said image density between said each pixel and other pixels existing in a second direction in said image density detected by said detecting means; second comparing means for comparing the predetermined constant value to said second difference of said image density and for outputting a signal when said second difference is larger than said predetermined constant value; second counting means for counting a number of said signals output by said second comparing means; judging means for judging a kind of said image based on the numbers counted by said first counting means and said second counting means; and processing means for performing an image processing based on a judgment result of said judging means; wherein the detecting means is coupled to the pixel generating means.

Claim 32

The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein said judging means judges that said image is a dot photograph image when said number counted by said first counting means is substantially equal to said number counted by said second counting means and said number counted by said first counting means is larger than a second predetermined value.

Claim 33

The apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein said judging means judges that said image is a photograph image, when said number counted by said first counting means is substantially equal to said number counting means and said number counted by said first counting means is smaller than said second predetermined value.

Claim 34

The apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein said second predetermined value is used for judging whether said image is a dot photograph image or a photograph image.

Claim 35

The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein said judging means judges that said image is a character image when said number counted by said first counting means is larger than said number counted by said second counting means and said number counted by said first counting means is larger than a second predetermined valued.

Claim 36

The apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein said judging means judges that said image is a photograph image when said number counted by said second counting means and said number counted by said first counting means is larger than said number counted by said second counting means and said number counted by said first counting means is smaller than said second predetermined value.

Claim 37

The apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein said second predetermined value is used for judging whether said image is a character image or a photograph image.

Claim 38

The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the pixel generating means is a CCD image reader.

Claim 39

An image processing apparatus for judging whether an image is a dot photograph image or a character image and for performing an image processing, comprising: means for generating pixels from the image; first detecting means for detecting an image density of each pixel of the image in a first direction; first comparing means for comparing said image density detected by said first detecting means with a predetermined constant value and for outputting a signal when said image density is larger than said predetermined value; first counting means for counting a number of said signals output by said first comparing means; second detecting means for detecting said image density of each pixel of said image in a second direction different from said first direction; second comparing means for comparing said image density detected by said second detecting means with said predetermined constant value and for outputting a signal when said image density is larger than said predetermined constant value; second counting means for counting a number of said signals output by said second comparing means; judging means for judging that said image is a dot photograph image when said number counted by said first counting means and said number counted by said second counting means are substantially equal and for judging that said image is a character image when said number counted by said first counting means and said number counted by said second counting means are different; and processing means for performing an image processing based on a judgment result of said judging means; wherein the first and second detecting means are coupled to the pixel generating means.

Claim 40

An image processing apparatus for judging whether an image is a dot photograph image or a character image and for performing an image processing, comprising: means for generating pixels from the image; first detecting means for detecting an image density of each pixel of the image in a first direction; first comparing means for comparing said image density detected by said first detecting means with a predetermined constant value and for outputting a signal when said image density is larger than said predetermined value; first counting means for counting a number of said signals output by said first comparing means; second detecting means for detecting said image density of each pixel of said image in a second direction different from said first direction; second comparing means for comparing said image density detected by said second detecting means with said predetermined constant value and for outputting a signal when said image density is larger than said predetermined constant value; second counting means for counting a number of said signals output by said second comparing means; judging means for judging that said image is a dot photograph image when said number counted by said first counting means and said number counted by said second counting means are substantially equal and for judging that said image is a character image when said number counted by said first counting means and said number counted by said second counting means are different; and processing means for performing an image processing based on a judgment result of said judging means; wherein the first and second detecting means are coupled to the pixel generating means.

Claim 41

The apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein the pixel generating means is a CCD image reader.

Claim 42

An image processing apparatus comprising: means for receiving pixels for a document image; first pixel detecting means for comparing each pixel in a one-dimension direction to a predetermined constant density and identifying each of said pixels having a peak density in the one-dimension direction larger than the predetermined constant density from image data located in a predetermined image area of the document image; second pixel detecting means for comparing each pixel in a one-dimension direction to the predetermined constant density and identifying each of said pixels having peak densities in the two-dimension directions larger than the predetermined constant density from said image data; first counting means for counting a number of said first peak density pixels of one dimension identified by said first pixel detecting means; second counting means for counting a number of said second peak density pixels of two dimensions identified by said second pixel detecting means; means for selecting an image processing method based on said number counted by said first counting means and said number counted by said second counting means; and means for processing said image data according to the image processing method selected by said selecting means; wherein the first and second detecting means are coupled to the pixel receiving means.

Claim 43

An image processing apparatus comprising: means for receiving pixels for a document image; first pixel detecting means for comparing each pixel in a one-dimension direction to a predetermined constant density and identifying each of said pixels having a peak density in the one-dimension direction larger than the predetermined constant density from image data located in a predetermined image area of the document image; second pixel detecting means for comparing each pixel in a one-dimension direction to the predetermined constant density and identifying each of said pixels having peak densities in the two-dimension directions larger than the predetermined constant density from said image data; first counting means for counting a number of said first peak density pixels of one dimension identified by said first pixel detecting means; second counting means for counting a number of said second peak density pixels of two dimensions identified by said second pixel detecting means; means for selecting an image processing method based on said number counted by said first counting means and said number counted by said second counting means; and means for processing said image data according to the image processing method selected by said selecting means; wherein the first and second detecting means are coupled to the pixel receiving means.

Claim 44

An image processing apparatus comprising: means for receiving pixels for a document image; first pixel detecting means for comparing each pixel in a one-dimension direction to a predetermined constant density and identifying each of said pixels having a peak density in the one-dimension direction larger than the predetermined constant density from image data located in a predetermined image area of the document image; second pixel detecting means for comparing each pixel in two-dimension directions to the predetermined constant density and identifying each of said pixels having peak densities in the two-dimension directions larger than the predetermined constant density from said image data; first counting means for counting a number of said first peak density pixels of one dimension identified by said first pixel detecting means; second counting means for counting a number of said second peak density pixels of two dimensions identified by said second pixel detecting means; means for selecting an image processing method by comparing the number counted by said first counting means with a predetermined first threshold value and comparing the number counted by said second counting means with a predetermined second threshold value; and means for processing said image data according to the image processing method selected by said selecting means; wherein the first and second detecting means are coupled to the pixel receiving means.

Claim 45

An image processing apparatus comprising: means for receiving pixels for a document image; first pixel detecting means for comparing each pixel in a one-dimension direction to a predetermined constant density and identifying each of said pixels having a peak density in the one-dimension direction larger than the predetermined constant density from image data located in a predetermined image area of the document image; second pixel detecting means for comparing each pixel in two-dimension directions to the predetermined constant density and identifying each of said pixels having peak densities in the two-dimension directions larger than the predetermined constant density from said image data; first counting means for counting a number of said first peak density pixels of one dimension identified by said first pixel detecting means; second counting means for counting a number of said second peak density pixels of two dimensions identified by said second pixel detecting means; means for selecting an image processing method by comparing the number counted by said first counting means with a predetermined first threshold value and comparing the number counted by said second counting means with a predetermined second threshold value; and means for processing said image data according to the image processing method selected by said selecting means; wherein the first and second detecting means are coupled to the pixel receiving means.

Claim 46

An image processing apparatus comprising: means for receiving pixels for an image; first detecting means for detecting an image density of each pixel of the image in a first direction; first comparing means for comparing said image density detected by said first detecting means with a predetermined constant value and for outputting a signal when said image density is larger than said predetermined constant value; first counting means for counting a number of said signals output by said first comparing means; second detecting means for detecting said image density of each pixel of said image in a second direction different from said first direction; second comparing means for comparing said image density detected by said second detecting means with said predetermined constant value and for outputting a signal when said image density is larger than said predetermined constant value; second counting means for counting a number of said signals output by said second comparing means; judging means for judging a kind of said image based on the numbers counted by said first counting means and said second counting means; and processing means for performing an image processing based on a judgment result of said judging means; wherein the first and second detecting means are coupled to the pixel receiving means.

Claim 47

An image processing apparatus comprising: means for receiving pixels for an image; first detecting means for detecting an image density of each pixel of the image in a first direction; first comparing means for comparing said image density detected by said first detecting means with a predetermined constant value and for outputting a signal when said image density is larger than said predetermined constant value; first counting means for counting a number of said signals output by said first comparing means; second detecting means for detecting said image density of each pixel of said image in a second direction different from said first direction; second comparing means for comparing said image density detected by said second detecting means with said predetermined constant value and for outputting a signal when said image density is larger than said predetermined constant value; second counting means for counting a number of said signals output by said second comparing means; judging means for judging a kind of said image based on the numbers counted by said first counting means and said second counting means; and processing means for performing an image processing based on a judgment result of said judging means; wherein the first and second detecting means are coupled to the pixel receiving means.

Claim 48

An image processing apparatus comprising: means for receiving pixels for a document image; detecting means for detecting an image density of each pixel of the image; first finding means for finding for each pixel a first difference of said image density between said each pixel and other pixels existing in a first direction in said image density detected by said detecting means; first comparing means for comparing a predetermined constant value with said first difference of said image density for each pixel and for outputting a signal when said first difference is larger than said predetermined constant value; first counting means for counting a number of said signals output by said first comparing means; second finding means for finding for each pixel a second difference of said image density between said each pixel and other pixels existing in a second direction in said image density detected by said detecting means; second comparing means for comparing the predetermined constant value to said second difference of said image density and for outputting a signal when said second difference is larger than said predetermined constant value; second counting means for counting a number of said signals output by said second comparing means; judging means for judging a kind of said image based on the numbers counted by said first counting means and said second counting means; and processing means for performing an image processing based on a judgment result of said judging means; wherein the detecting means is coupled to the pixel receiving means.

Claim 49

An image processing apparatus comprising: means for receiving pixels for a document image; detecting means for detecting an image density of each pixel of the image; first finding means for finding for each pixel a first difference of said image density between said each pixel and other pixels existing in a first direction in said image density detected by said detecting means; first comparing means for comparing a predetermined constant value with said first difference of said image density for each pixel and for outputting a signal when said first difference is larger than said predetermined constant value; first counting means for counting a number of said signals output by said first comparing means; second finding means for finding for each pixel a second difference of said image density between said each pixel and other pixels existing in a second direction in said image density detected by said detecting means; second comparing means for comparing the predetermined constant value to said second difference of said image density and for outputting a signal when said second difference is larger than said predetermined constant value; second counting means for counting a number of said signals output by said second comparing means; judging means for judging a kind of said image based on the numbers counted by said first counting means and said second counting means; and processing means for performing an image processing based on a judgment result of said judging means; wherein the detecting means is coupled to the pixel receiving means.

Claim 50

An image processing apparatus for judging whether an image is a dot photograph image or a character image and for performing an image processing, comprising: means for receiving pixels for the image; first detecting means for detecting an image density of each pixel of the image in a first direction; first comparing means for comparing said image density detected by said first detecting means with a predetermined constant value and for outputting a signal when said image density is larger than said predetermined value; first counting means for counting a number of said signals output by said first comparing means; second detecting means for detecting said image density of each pixel of said image in a second direction different from said first direction; second comparing means for comparing said image density detected by said second detecting means with said predetermined constant value and for outputting a signal when said image density is larger than said predetermined constant value; second counting means for counting a number of said signals output by said second comparing means; judging means for judging that said image is a dot photograph image when said number counted by said first counting means and said number counted by said second counting means are substantially equal and for judging that said image is a character image when said number counted by said first counting means and said number counted by said second counting means are different; and processing means for performing an image processing based on a judgment result of said judging means; wherein the first and second detecting means are coupled to the pixel receiving means.

Claim 51

An image processing apparatus for judging whether an image is a dot photograph image or a character image and for performing an image processing, comprising: means for receiving pixels for the image; first detecting means for detecting an image density of each pixel of the image in a first direction; first comparing means for comparing said image density detected by said first detecting means with a predetermined constant value and for outputting a signal when said image density is larger than said predetermined value; first counting means for counting a number of said signals output by said first comparing means; second detecting means for detecting said image density of each pixel of said image in a second direction different from said first direction; second comparing means for comparing said image density detected by said second detecting means with said predetermined constant value and for outputting a signal when said image density is larger than said predetermined constant value; second counting means for counting a number of said signals output by said second comparing means; judging means for judging that said image is a dot photograph image when said number counted by said first counting means and said number counted by said second counting means are substantially equal and for judging that said image is a character image when said number counted by said first counting means and said number counted by said second counting means are different; and processing means for performing an image processing based on a judgment result of said judging means; wherein the first and second detecting means are coupled to the pixel receiving means.