Patent US5570432A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5570432A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image controller
Assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1995-05-02
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Granted: 1996-10-29
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Expires: 2015-05-02
Abstract
Abstract A computer outputs image data to a control circuit which in turn analyzes the content of the image data and stores pictorial image data, character image data and graphic image data in the separate designated areas of a memory circuit. The image data stored in the memory circuit is output to a halftone processor, and also to a selecting circuit. The output of the halftone processor is also supplied to the selecting circuit. The selecting circuit selects the output of the memory circuit or the output of the halftone processor in accordance with an area signal from the control circuit, and outputting the select signal to an output device, such as a printer. Thus, it is possible to output characters, graphics and halftone pictorial images with high quality even with the use of an image memory of low capacity.
Inventors
- 👤 Akio Kojima
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:35
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/387; H04N1/3871; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0002; G06K2215/0077
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
An image controller for processing one frame image data containing N-level pictorial image data and N-level non-pictorial image data, comprising: memory means for storing said one frame image data containing said N-level pictorial image data at a first area and said N-level non-pictorial image data at least at a second area; control means for generating a first address corresponding to said first area in said memory means and a second address corresponding to said second area in said memory means; reading means for reading said one frame image data from said memory means and for producing N-level pictorial image data and N-level non-pictorial image data; halftone processor means coupled to said reading means for converting said N-level pictorial image data and N-level non-pictorial image data to M-level pictorial image data and M-level non-pictorial image data, respectively (N<M); normalizing means, coupled to said reading means, for normalizing said N-level pictorial image data and N-level non-pictorial image data to normalized pictorial image data and normalized non-pictorial image data, respectively; and selecting means for selecting said M-level pictorial image data from said halftone processor means during the reading of said first area as indicated by said first address, and for selecting said normalized non-pictorial image data from said normalizing means during the reading of said second area as indicated by said second address.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
An image controller for processing one frame image data containing N-level pictorial image data and N-level non-pictorial image data, comprising: memory means for storing said one frame image data containing said N-level pictorial image data at a first area and said N-level non-pictorial image data at least at a second area; control means for generating a first address corresponding to said first area in said memory means and a second address corresponding to said second area in said memory means; reading means for reading said one frame image data from said memory means and for producing N-level pictorial image data and N-level non-pictorial image data; halftone processor means coupled to said reading means for converting said N-level pictorial image data and N-level non-pictorial image data to M-level pictorial image data and M-level non-pictorial image data, respectively (N<M); normalizing means, coupled to said reading means, for normalizing said N-level pictorial image data and N-level non-pictorial image data to normalized pictorial image data and normalized non-pictorial image data, respectively; and selecting means for selecting said M-level pictorial image data from said halftone processor means during the reading of said first area as indicated by said first address, and for selecting said normalized non-pictorial image data from said normalizing means during the reading of said second area as indicated by said second address.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
An image controller as claimed in claim 1, further comprising edge smoothing means connected to said reading means for producing an edge smoothed image data, and wherein said selecting means selects said M-level pictorial image data during the reading of said preselected area, and for selecting said edge smoothed image data during the reading of said further preselected area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
An image controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said memory means is a bit map memory.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reading means reads said image data in raster format.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said N-level non-pictorial image data is any one selected from character data and graphic data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image controller as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a printer for printing one frame image data produced from said selecting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image controller as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a display for displaying one frame image data produced from said selecting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
195 words
An image controller for processing one frame image containing N-level pictorial image data and N-level non-pictorial image data each presented in data aggregates, comprising: analyzing means for analyzing said data aggregates; memory means for storing said N-level pictorial image data at a preselected area and said N-level non-pictorial image data at least at a further preselected area wherein said preselected area and said further preselected area are defined by respective ones of said data aggregates; control means for generating a first address corresponding to said preselected area in said memory means and a second address corresponding to said further preselected area in said memory means; for reading said N-level pictorial image data and said N-level non-pictorial image data from said memory means at said first address and said second address, respectively; halftone processor means coupled to said reading means for converting said N-level pictorial image data to an M-level pictorial image data (N<M); and selecting means for selecting said M-level pictorial image data from said halftone processor means during the reading of said preselected areas, and for selecting said N-level non-pictorial image data from said reading means during the reading of said further preselected area.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
195 words
An image controller for processing one frame image containing N-level pictorial image data and N-level non-pictorial image data each presented in data aggregates, comprising: analyzing means for analyzing said data aggregates; memory means for storing said N-level pictorial image data at a preselected area and said N-level non-pictorial image data at least at a further preselected area wherein said preselected area and said further preselected area are defined by respective ones of said data aggregates; control means for generating a first address corresponding to said preselected area in said memory means and a second address corresponding to said further preselected area in said memory means; for reading said N-level pictorial image data and said N-level non-pictorial image data from said memory means at said first address and said second address, respectively; halftone processor means coupled to said reading means for converting said N-level pictorial image data to an M-level pictorial image data (N<M); and selecting means for selecting said M-level pictorial image data from said halftone processor means during the reading of said preselected areas, and for selecting said N-level non-pictorial image data from said reading means during the reading of said further preselected area.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
An image controller as claimed in claim 8, further comprising edge smoothing means connected to said reading means for producing an edge smoothed image data, and wherein said selecting means selects said M-level pictorial image data during the reading of said preselected area, and for selecting said edge smoothed image data during the reading of said further preselected area.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
An image controller as claimed in claim 8, wherein said memory means is a bit map memory.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image controller as claimed in claim 8, wherein said reading means reads said image data in raster format.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image controller as claimed in claim 8, wherein said non-pictorial image data is any one selected from character data and graphic data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image controller as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a printer for printing one frame image data produced from said selecting means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image controller as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a display for displaying one frame image data produced from said selecting means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
196 words
An image controller for processing one frame image data containing N-level pictorial image data and 2-level non-pictorial image data, comprising: first memory means for storing N-level pictorial image data at a first preselected area having a first address space; second memory means for storing 2-level non-pictorial image data at a second preselected area having a second address space corresponding to and at least partially overlapping said first preselected area; halftone processor means coupled to said first memory means for converting said N-level pictorial image data to an M-level pictorial image data (N<M); and selecting means for selecting said M-level pictorial image data from said halftone processor means responsive to a first value stored in an address in said second address space where said 2-level non-pictorial image data is and for selecting at least one of: a) said 2-level non-pictorial image data from said second memory means and b) edge smoothed 2-level non-pictorial image data from edge smoothing means coupled to said second memory means for producing an edge smoothed said 2-level non-pictorial image data responsive to a second value stored in said address in said second address space where said 2-level non-pictorial image data is stored.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
196 words
An image controller for processing one frame image data containing N-level pictorial image data and 2-level non-pictorial image data, comprising: first memory means for storing N-level pictorial image data at a first preselected area having a first address space; second memory means for storing 2-level non-pictorial image data at a second preselected area having a second address space corresponding to and at least partially overlapping said first preselected area; halftone processor means coupled to said first memory means for converting said N-level pictorial image data to an M-level pictorial image data (N<M); and selecting means for selecting said M-level pictorial image data from said halftone processor means responsive to a first value stored in an address in said second address space where said 2-level non-pictorial image data is and for selecting at least one of: a) said 2-level non-pictorial image data from said second memory means and b) edge smoothed 2-level non-pictorial image data from edge smoothing means coupled to said second memory means for producing an edge smoothed said 2-level non-pictorial image data responsive to a second value stored in said address in said second address space where said 2-level non-pictorial image data is stored.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image controller as claimed in claim 15, wherein each of said first and second memory means is a bit map memory.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image controller as claimed in claim 15, wherein said 2-level non-pictorial image data is any one selected from character data and graphic data.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image controller as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a printer for printing one frame of image data produced from said selecting means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image controller as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a display for displaying one frame of image data produced from said selecting means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-10-29 | 2000-04-29 | 2000-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-10-29 | 2004-04-29 | 2004-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-10-29 | 2008-04-29 | 2008-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |