Patent US5557430A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5557430A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image processing apparatus generating patterns for colors based on a set relation between colors and patterns and synthesizing patterns with extracted monochromatic information
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1995-09-15
•
Granted: 1996-09-17
•
Expires: 2015-09-15
Abstract
Abstract An image processing apparatus reads color images, identifies the colors of an read color image, converts the color image into a monochrome image, synthesizes color recognition information on the monochrome image, and prints the resulting synthesized image as a monochrome image. As a result, even if a low-priced printer is employed, it is possible to provide a monochrome image permitting recognition of the colors of the color original, or quick identification of differences among the colors thereof. Moreover, this allows a user to specify a desired graphic pattern to be associated with a given color, and to obtain collation tables independently of the monochrome image, or to print the specified graphic pattern with any variable magnification power.
Inventors
- 👤 Keizo Isemura
- 👤 Kunio Yoshihara
- 👤 Hiroyuki Ichikawa
- 👤 Masanori Sakai
- 👤 Masatoshi Tanabe
- 👤 Mitsuo Nimura
- 👤 Yoshihiro Funamizu
- 👤 Hirohiko Kishimoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:27
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/40012
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
An image processing apparatus, comprising: image input means for inputting images containing colors; color recognition means for recognizing the colors of the images input by said image input means; setting means for setting a relation between colors and patterns; pattern generation means for generating patterns in accordance with each of the colors recognized by said color recognition means, and the relation between colors and patterns set by said setting means; visualizing means for visualizing the relation between patterns and colors generated by said pattern generation means; area recognition means for recognizing areas containing the colors in the images input by said image input means; extraction means for extracting monochrome information from the images input by said image input means; synthesis means for synthesizing the patterns originating from said pattern generation means within the area recognized by said area recognition means with the monochrome information extracted by said extraction means; and output means for outputting the images synthesized by said synthesis means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
An image processing apparatus, comprising: image input means for inputting images containing colors; color recognition means for recognizing the colors of the images input by said image input means; setting means for setting a relation between colors and patterns; pattern generation means for generating patterns in accordance with each of the colors recognized by said color recognition means, and the relation between colors and patterns set by said setting means; visualizing means for visualizing the relation between patterns and colors generated by said pattern generation means; area recognition means for recognizing areas containing the colors in the images input by said image input means; extraction means for extracting monochrome information from the images input by said image input means; synthesis means for synthesizing the patterns originating from said pattern generation means within the area recognized by said area recognition means with the monochrome information extracted by said extraction means; and output means for outputting the images synthesized by said synthesis means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pattern setting means specifies intended patterns from among a plurality of patterns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pattern setting means is capable of specifying intended patterns at any variable power.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pattern setting means is capable of specifying the relationships between specified patterns and colors recognized by said color recognition means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pattern setting means selects and specifies patterns from among a plurality of predetermined patterns.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said pattern setting means includes keys for selecting patterns.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pattern setting means includes a pattern input means for inputting graphic patterns in pixel units and specifies the graphic patterns sent from said pattern input means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said pattern input means is keys for entering graphic patterns.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said pattern input means comprises a digitizer for inputting graphic patterns.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pattern setting means specifies the patterns sent from said image input means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pattern setting means comprises electronic equipment which is installed as an external unit of said image processing apparatus and capable of creating intended patterns.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said image input means comprises a reader for reading original images.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said output means comprises a printer for printing images on sheets of paper.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said visualizing means displays the relation between patterns and colors.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said visualizing means prints the relation between patterns and colors on a sheet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
170 words
An image processing method, comprising: an image input step for inputting images containing colors; a color recognition step for recognizing the colors of the images input by said image input step; a setting step for setting a relation between colors and patterns; a pattern generation step for generating patterns in accordance with each of the colors recognized by said color recognition step, and the relation between colors and patterns set by said setting step; a visualizing step for visualizing the relation between patterns and colors generated by said pattern generation step; an area recognition step for recognizing areas containing the colors in the images input by said image input step; an extraction step for extracting monochrome information from the images input by said image input step; a synthesis step for synthesizing the patterns originating from said pattern generation step within the area recognized by said area recognition step with the monochrome information extracted by said extraction step; and an output step for outputting the images synthesized by said synthesis step.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
170 words
An image processing method, comprising: an image input step for inputting images containing colors; a color recognition step for recognizing the colors of the images input by said image input step; a setting step for setting a relation between colors and patterns; a pattern generation step for generating patterns in accordance with each of the colors recognized by said color recognition step, and the relation between colors and patterns set by said setting step; a visualizing step for visualizing the relation between patterns and colors generated by said pattern generation step; an area recognition step for recognizing areas containing the colors in the images input by said image input step; an extraction step for extracting monochrome information from the images input by said image input step; a synthesis step for synthesizing the patterns originating from said pattern generation step within the area recognized by said area recognition step with the monochrome information extracted by said extraction step; and an output step for outputting the images synthesized by said synthesis step.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image processing method according to claim 16, wherein said pattern setting step specifies intended patterns from among a plurality of patterns.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image processing method according to claim 16 wherein said pattern setting step is capable of specifying intended patterns at any variable power.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
An image processing method according to claim 16 wherein said pattern setting step is capable of specifying the relationships between specified patterns and colors recognized by said color recognition step.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image processing method according to claim 16 wherein said pattern setting step selects and specifies patterns from among a plurality of predetermined patterns.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image processing method according to claim 20 wherein said pattern setting step includes keys on a keyboard for selecting patterns.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
An image processing method according to claim 16 wherein said pattern setting step includes a pattern input step for inputting graphic patterns in pixel units and for specifying the graphic patterns sent by said pattern input step.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image processing method according to claim 22 wherein said pattern input step uses keys on a keyboard for entering graphic patterns.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
An image processing method according to claim 22 wherein said pattern input step uses a digitizer for inputting graphic patterns.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image processing method according to claim 16 wherein said pattern setting step specifies the patterns sent by said image input step.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
An image processing method according to claim 16 wherein said pattern setting step uses an electronic equipment which is installed as an external unit of an image processing apparatus and which is capable of creating intended patterns.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
An image processing method according to claim 16 wherein said image input step uses a reader for reading original images.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image processing method according to claim 16 wherein said output step uses a printer for printing images on sheets of paper.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein said visualizing step displays the relation between patterns and colors on a display device.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein said visualizing step prints the relation between patterns and colors on a sheet.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4369461A
Cited
US4642681A
Cited
EP0199272A2
Cited
WO1988001778A1
Cited
JPS63187770A
Cited
DE3802736A1
Cited
WO1989003108A1
Cited
JPH01267691A
Cited
US5153576A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-09-17 | 2000-03-18 | 2000-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-09-17 | 2004-03-18 | 2004-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-09-17 | 2008-03-18 | 2008-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |