US5521990A — Image data processing using bi-level and multi-le…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 145 words

An image processing apparatus comprising: memory means comprising a first memory area and a second memory area, said first memory area being structured and arranged to store therein data representing a plurality of pixels of image data, each such pixel being represented by a respective plural-bit datum stored in said first memory area, and said second memory area being structured and arranged to store therein data representing a plurality of pixels of image data, each such pixel being represented by a respective one-bit datum stored in said second memory area; and output means for reading from said memory means, as plural-bit data each representing one pixel, both the plural-bit data stored in said first memory area and the one-bit data stored in said second memory area, and for combining the plural-bit data and the one-bit data to form combined data, to output the combined data.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 145 words

An image processing apparatus comprising: memory means comprising a first memory area and a second memory area, said first memory area being structured and arranged to store therein data representing a plurality of pixels of image data, each such pixel being represented by a respective plural-bit datum stored in said first memory area, and said second memory area being structured and arranged to store therein data representing a plurality of pixels of image data, each such pixel being represented by a respective one-bit datum stored in said second memory area; and output means for reading from said memory means, as plural-bit data each representing one pixel, both the plural-bit data stored in said first memory area and the one-bit data stored in said second memory area, and for combining the plural-bit data and the one-bit data to form combined data, to output the combined data.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 41 words

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said output means comprises converter means for converting each of the one-bit data into a respective plural-bit datum having one or the other of two levels corresponding respectively to two predetermined levels of data.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 17 words

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one-bit data represents image including characters and/or a figure.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 40 words

An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising input means for entering image data read by scanning an original, as data each having plural bits, wherein said first memory area stores the plural-bit data so entered through said input means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 35 words

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plural-bit data have a sufficient number of bits to represent a high degree of tonality and the one-bit data have a higher resolution than the plural-bit data.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 17 words

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plural-bit data is color data or monochrome tone data.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 31 words

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one-bit data is output as plural-bit data by representing each pixel with a string of "0" bits or a string of "1" bits.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 178 words

A method of processing image data for producing image data on the basis of data read out from a memory means and outputting the produced image data to an output means, comprising the steps of: an image processing apparatus-implemented step of producing a first plurality of pixels of image data within a predetermined area of an image, each such pixel being represented by a respective plural-bit datum read out from the memory means; an image processing apparatus-implemented step of producing a second plurality of pixels of image data outside of the predetermined image area, each such pixel being represented by a respective one-bit datum read out from the memory means; an image processing apparatus-implemented step of generating both data indicating output position of the plural-bit data and data indicating output position of the one-bit data; and an image processing apparatus-implemented step of outputting each pixel of both the first and the second pluralities of pixels of image data as a respective plural-bit datum, the outputting being controlled on the basis of the data generated in said generating step.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 178 words

A method of processing image data for producing image data on the basis of data read out from a memory means and outputting the produced image data to an output means, comprising the steps of: an image processing apparatus-implemented step of producing a first plurality of pixels of image data within a predetermined area of an image, each such pixel being represented by a respective plural-bit datum read out from the memory means; an image processing apparatus-implemented step of producing a second plurality of pixels of image data outside of the predetermined image area, each such pixel being represented by a respective one-bit datum read out from the memory means; an image processing apparatus-implemented step of generating both data indicating output position of the plural-bit data and data indicating output position of the one-bit data; and an image processing apparatus-implemented step of outputting each pixel of both the first and the second pluralities of pixels of image data as a respective plural-bit datum, the outputting being controlled on the basis of the data generated in said generating step.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 38 words

A method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of converting each of the one-bit data into a respective plural-bit datum having one or the other of two levels corresponding respectively to two predetermined levels of data.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method according to claim 8, wherein the one-bit data represents image including a character and/or a figure.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 35 words

A method according to claim 8, wherein the plural-bit data have a sufficient number of bits to represent a high degree of tonality and the one-bit data have a higher resolution than the plural-bit data.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 39 words

A method according to claim 8, wherein the data generated in said generating step to indicate an output position indicates starting point, height and width of a rectangle of a plural-bit-data output area, represented by a rectangular coordinate system.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 62 words

A method according to claim 8, wherein a horizontal output position of the data generated in said generating step to indicate an output position is obtained by counting a number of pixels from a horizontal sync signal, and a vertical output position of the generated data is obtained by counting a number of the horizontal sync signals from the vertical sync signal.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 37 words

A method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of storing the data generated in said generating step to indicate an output position, wherein the stored data is read out on the occasion of data output.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 32 words

A method according to claim 8, wherein one bit of the generated output position data determines for each pixel whether the pixel is printed as a one-bit or as a plural-bit datum.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 161 words

An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for entering image data; memory means having a first memory area and a second memory area, said first memory area being structured and arranged to store therein, with a first resolution, a plurality of pixels of image data entered through said input means, each such pixel being represented by a respective plural-bit datum, and said second memory area being structured and arranged to store therein, with a second resolution higher than the first resolution, the plurality of pixels of image data entered through said input means, each pixel being represented in said memory area by a respective one-bit datum; interpolation means for interpolating image data read from said first memory area for resolution conversion from the first resolution to the second resolution; and output means for outputting combined data which includes image data read from said first memory area and interpolated by said interpolation means and image data read from said second memory area.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 161 words

An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for entering image data; memory means having a first memory area and a second memory area, said first memory area being structured and arranged to store therein, with a first resolution, a plurality of pixels of image data entered through said input means, each such pixel being represented by a respective plural-bit datum, and said second memory area being structured and arranged to store therein, with a second resolution higher than the first resolution, the plurality of pixels of image data entered through said input means, each pixel being represented in said memory area by a respective one-bit datum; interpolation means for interpolating image data read from said first memory area for resolution conversion from the first resolution to the second resolution; and output means for outputting combined data which includes image data read from said first memory area and interpolated by said interpolation means and image data read from said second memory area.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 29 words

An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said output means is adapted to convert the one-bit data into respective plural-bit data and to output the plural-bit data so produced.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 23 words

An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the one-bit data stored in said second memory area represents image including characters and/or a figure.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 43 words

An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said input means comprises scanner means for entering image data read by scanning an original, as the plural-bit data, or an input unit for entering one-bit data representing an image such as characters or a figure.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 35 words

An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the plural-bit data have a sufficient number of bits to represent a high degree of tonality and the one-bit data have a higher resolution than the plural-bit data.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 26 words

An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said input means is a keyboard for entering one-bit data representing an image such as characters or a figure.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 28 words

An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein, in outputting the combined data, one-bit data and plural-bit data are selectively switched in accordance with output position data and output.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 28 words

An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the one-bit data and the plural-bit data are selectively switched by logical operation between the one-bit data and the plural-bit data.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 161 words

An image processing method comprising the steps of: an image processing apparatus-implemented step of storing with a first resolution, in a first memory area of a memory means, a plurality of pixels of image data entered by input means, each such pixel being represented by a respective plural-bit datum; an image processing apparatus-implemented step of storing, in a second memory area of the memory means, with a second resolution higher than the first resolution, the plurality of pixels of image data entered in said entering step, each pixel being represented in the second memory area by a respective one-bit datum; an image processing apparatus-implemented step of interpolating image data read from the first memory area for resolution conversion from the first resolution to the second resolution; and an image processing apparatus-implemented step of outputting combined data which includes image data read from the first memory area and interpolated in said interpolating step and image data read from the second memory area.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 161 words

An image processing method comprising the steps of: an image processing apparatus-implemented step of storing with a first resolution, in a first memory area of a memory means, a plurality of pixels of image data entered by input means, each such pixel being represented by a respective plural-bit datum; an image processing apparatus-implemented step of storing, in a second memory area of the memory means, with a second resolution higher than the first resolution, the plurality of pixels of image data entered in said entering step, each pixel being represented in the second memory area by a respective one-bit datum; an image processing apparatus-implemented step of interpolating image data read from the first memory area for resolution conversion from the first resolution to the second resolution; and an image processing apparatus-implemented step of outputting combined data which includes image data read from the first memory area and interpolated in said interpolating step and image data read from the second memory area.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 28 words

A method according to claim 24, wherein, in said outputting step, the one-bit data are converted into respective plural-bit data and the plural-bit data so produced are output.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 23 words

A method according to claim 24, wherein the one-bit data stored in the second memory area represent image including characters and/or a figure.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 41 words

A method according to claim 24, wherein said entering of image data by input means comprises entering image data read by scanning an original, as the plural-bit data, and entering one-bit data representing an image such as characters or a figure.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 35 words

A method according to claim 24, wherein the plural-bit data have a sufficient number of bits to represent a high degree of tonality and the one-bit data have a higher resolution than the plural-bit data.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 33 words

A method according to claim 27, wherein said entering of image data by input means is performed using a keyboard for entering one-bit data representing an image such as characters or a figure.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 28 words

A method according to claim 24, wherein, in outputting the combined data, one-bit data and plural-bit data are selectively switched in accordance with output position data and output.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 28 words

A method according to claim 30, wherein the one-bit data and the plural-bit data are selectively switched by logical operation between the one-bit data and the plural-bit data.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-05-28	1999-11-27	2000-05-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-05-28	2003-11-27	2004-05-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-05-28	2007-11-27	2008-05-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Image data processing using bi-level and multi-level value data

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag