Patent US4764690A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5572606A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5572606A
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Image information processing method and apparatus therefor with multi-level data capability
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1994-06-08
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Granted: 1996-11-05
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Expires: 2014-06-08
Abstract
Abstract A method and an apparatus for processing image information by converting binary image data into multi-level image data. After conversion the image data are subjected to a smoothing process to avoid apparent loss in image quality.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi Tanioka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:39
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T5/00; G06T5/20; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/409; H04N1/4092
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
An image information processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting a binary image signal and an image clock signal for each picture element, the binary image signal being one which has been binarization-processed using a predetermined matrix; conversion means for converting the binary image signal input by said input means into a multi-level digital image signal of three or more levels, the multi-level digital image signal representing density data for each picture element, and said conversion means converting the binary image signal into the multi-level digital image signal without increasing the number of picture elements, wherein said conversion means further comprises line memories for delaying the binary image signal by a quantity corresponding to plural lines and performs the conversion in real time synchronously with the image clock signal using said line memories, and wherein said conversion means includes means for discriminating whether the binary image signal is a signal obtained by binarizing halftone portion or a signal obtained by binarizing a character portion and converts the binary image signal into a multi-level digital image signal in accordance with a discrimination result provided by said discrimination means; and smoothing means for the multi-level digital image signal obtained in said conversion means, wherein said smoothing means performs smoothing processing of the multi-level digital image signal for an area a size of which is smaller than a size of said predetermined matrix.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
230 words
An image information processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting a binary image signal and an image clock signal for each picture element, the binary image signal being one which has been binarization-processed using a predetermined matrix; conversion means for converting the binary image signal input by said input means into a multi-level digital image signal of three or more levels, the multi-level digital image signal representing density data for each picture element, and said conversion means converting the binary image signal into the multi-level digital image signal without increasing the number of picture elements, wherein said conversion means further comprises line memories for delaying the binary image signal by a quantity corresponding to plural lines and performs the conversion in real time synchronously with the image clock signal using said line memories, and wherein said conversion means includes means for discriminating whether the binary image signal is a signal obtained by binarizing halftone portion or a signal obtained by binarizing a character portion and converts the binary image signal into a multi-level digital image signal in accordance with a discrimination result provided by said discrimination means; and smoothing means for the multi-level digital image signal obtained in said conversion means, wherein said smoothing means performs smoothing processing of the multi-level digital image signal for an area a size of which is smaller than a size of said predetermined matrix.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An image information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said conversion means performs the conversion operation on the binary image signal for each area corresponding to the size of said predetermined matrix.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
An image information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising judgment means for inputting the binary image signal for each area corresponding to the size of said predetermined matrix and judging a tone of image represented by the binary image signal for that area, and wherein said conversion means performs the conversion in accordance with a judging result obtained by said judgment means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An image information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined matrix includes a dither matrix.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
224 words
An image formation processing method comprising the steps of: inputting method comprising the steps of: inputting a binary image signal for each picture element, wherein the binary image signal is one which has been binarization-processed using a predetermined threshold matrix; converting the binary image signal input in said inputting step into a multi-level digital image signal of three or more levels, the multi-level digital image signal representing density data for each picture element, said converting step converting the binary image signal into the multi-level digital image signal without increasing the number of picture elements, wherein said converting step is preformed in real time synchronously with the image clock signal using line memories the binary image signal by a quantity corresponding to plural lines, and wherein said converting step further includes the step of discriminating whether the binary image signal is a signal obtained by binarizing a halftone portion or a signal obtained by binarizing a character portion, and the binary image signal is converted into a multi-level digital image signal in accordance with a discrimination result obtained in said discriminating step; and smoothing the multi-level image signal obtained in said conversion step, wherein, in said smoothing step, the smoothing processing of the multi-level digital image signal is performed for an area a size of which is smaller than a size of the threshold matrix.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
224 words
An image formation processing method comprising the steps of: inputting method comprising the steps of: inputting a binary image signal for each picture element, wherein the binary image signal is one which has been binarization-processed using a predetermined threshold matrix; converting the binary image signal input in said inputting step into a multi-level digital image signal of three or more levels, the multi-level digital image signal representing density data for each picture element, said converting step converting the binary image signal into the multi-level digital image signal without increasing the number of picture elements, wherein said converting step is preformed in real time synchronously with the image clock signal using line memories the binary image signal by a quantity corresponding to plural lines, and wherein said converting step further includes the step of discriminating whether the binary image signal is a signal obtained by binarizing a halftone portion or a signal obtained by binarizing a character portion, and the binary image signal is converted into a multi-level digital image signal in accordance with a discrimination result obtained in said discriminating step; and smoothing the multi-level image signal obtained in said conversion step, wherein, in said smoothing step, the smoothing processing of the multi-level digital image signal is performed for an area a size of which is smaller than a size of the threshold matrix.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An image information processing method according to claim 5, wherein, in said conversion step, the conversion operation on the binary image signal is performed for each area corresponding to the size of the predetermined threshold matrix.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
An image information processing method according to claim 6, further comprising a judgment step in which the binary image signal is input for each area corresponding to the size of the predetermined threshold matrix and a tone of image represented by the binary image signal is judged, and wherein, in said conversion step, the conversion is performed in accordance with a judging result obtained in said judgment step.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
An image information processing method according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined threshold matrix includes a dither matrix.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
189 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: supplying n-value image data for each picture element and an image clock signal; and discriminating, in a case where m-value image data representing a density of each picture element is estimated from the n-value image data (where m>n), a two-dimensional pattern of the n-value image data and estimating the m-value image data using the discriminated pattern as a parameter, wherein said pattern discriminating step is performed in real time synchronously with the image clock signal using line memories for delaying the image data by a quantity corresponding to plural lines, wherein, in the case of discriminating the m-value image data according to the n-value image data, the number of picture elements is not increased, and wherein said pattern discriminating step further includes a second discriminating step of discriminating whether the n-value image data is a signal obtained by binarizing a halftone portion or a signal obtained by binarizing a character portion, and further comprises the step of converting the n-value image data into the m-value digital image data in accordance with a discriminating result obtained in said second discriminating whether step.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
189 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: supplying n-value image data for each picture element and an image clock signal; and discriminating, in a case where m-value image data representing a density of each picture element is estimated from the n-value image data (where m>n), a two-dimensional pattern of the n-value image data and estimating the m-value image data using the discriminated pattern as a parameter, wherein said pattern discriminating step is performed in real time synchronously with the image clock signal using line memories for delaying the image data by a quantity corresponding to plural lines, wherein, in the case of discriminating the m-value image data according to the n-value image data, the number of picture elements is not increased, and wherein said pattern discriminating step further includes a second discriminating step of discriminating whether the n-value image data is a signal obtained by binarizing a halftone portion or a signal obtained by binarizing a character portion, and further comprises the step of converting the n-value image data into the m-value digital image data in accordance with a discriminating result obtained in said second discriminating whether step.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the n-value image data is halftone-processed binary data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 9, further comprising: smoothing the inferred image data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the two dimensional pattern of the n-value image data is discriminated in a pattern matching method.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said discrimination step is executed by a read only memory table.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the n-value image data is dither-processed data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
133 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: supplying n-value image data for each picture element and an image clock signal; and estimating m-value image data representing a density of each picture element from the supplied n-value image data (where m>n), wherein said estimating step is performed in real time synchronously with the image clock signal using line memories for delaying the image data by a quantity corresponding to plural lines, wherein said estimating step further includes the step of discriminating whether the n-value image data is a signal obtained by binarizing a halftone portion or a signal obtained by binarizing a character portion, and wherein, in said estimating step, the n-value image data is converted into a m-value digital image data in accordance with a discriminating result obtained in said discriminating step.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
133 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: supplying n-value image data for each picture element and an image clock signal; and estimating m-value image data representing a density of each picture element from the supplied n-value image data (where m>n), wherein said estimating step is performed in real time synchronously with the image clock signal using line memories for delaying the image data by a quantity corresponding to plural lines, wherein said estimating step further includes the step of discriminating whether the n-value image data is a signal obtained by binarizing a halftone portion or a signal obtained by binarizing a character portion, and wherein, in said estimating step, the n-value image data is converted into a m-value digital image data in accordance with a discriminating result obtained in said discriminating step.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein the n-value image data is halftone-processed binary data.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of smoothing the m-value image data produced in said estimating step.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein said discriminating step is executed by means of a read only memory table.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein the n-value image data is dither-processed data.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-11-05 | 2000-05-06 | 2000-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-11-05 | 2004-05-06 | 2004-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-11-05 | 2008-05-06 | 2008-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |