US5740333A — Image processing method and image processing appa…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 176 words

An image processing apparatus for separating a color image into three colors of red, green, and blue and converting said color image to a 2-color image including red and black as specified colors depending on a quality of light for each of the three colors above and outputting the converted color image producing a visible 2-color image, wherein first and second correction values for red and a threshold value for green are previously set, said image processing apparatus having a function for computing the following expressions in relation to each pixel constituting said color image; Quantity of light for green>Threshold value for green (1) Quantity of light for red>(Quantity of light for green+First correction value for red) (2) Quantity of light for red>(Quantity of light for green+Second correction value for red) (3) and also having a color detector for recognizing red for a pixel at which said expression (1) and expression (2) are satisfied or said expression (1) is not satisfied but said expression (3) is satisfied and also recognizing other pixels as not for red.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 176 words

An image processing apparatus for separating a color image into three colors of red, green, and blue and converting said color image to a 2-color image including red and black as specified colors depending on a quality of light for each of the three colors above and outputting the converted color image producing a visible 2-color image, wherein first and second correction values for red and a threshold value for green are previously set, said image processing apparatus having a function for computing the following expressions in relation to each pixel constituting said color image; Quantity of light for green>Threshold value for green (1) Quantity of light for red>(Quantity of light for green+First correction value for red) (2) Quantity of light for red>(Quantity of light for green+Second correction value for red) (3) and also having a color detector for recognizing red for a pixel at which said expression (1) and expression (2) are satisfied or said expression (1) is not satisfied but said expression (3) is satisfied and also recognizing other pixels as not for red.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 61 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a white and black determinator for computing, when said color detector recognized a pixel as for a color different from said specified color, a brightness value for the pixel and recognizing the pixel as for white when the computed value exceeds a preset threshold value or as for black in other cases.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 123 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a color displacement corrector for organizing, for each pixel constituting said color image, a 5×5 matrix with a color recognized for the pixel centering on the object pixel, extracting a plurality of linear patterns each comprising 4 elements and including the central pixel as a third pixel in each of the vertical, horizontal, and diagonal directions, comparing the linear patterns to a plurality of reference patterns previously set, and correcting a color of the pixel to black when there is any matching pattern and at the same time said object pixel is for a specified color, or to a specified color when there is any matching pattern and said object pixel is for black.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 99 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an order of a first element to a fourth element in said reference pattern when said specified color is red is any of (red, red, black, white), (black, black, red, white), (white, black, red, white), (black, red, red, white), or (white, red, red, black) and also an order of a first element to a fourth element in said reference pattern when said specified color is blue is any of (blue, blue, black, white), (black, black, blue, white), (white, black, blue, white), (black, blue, blue, white) or (white, blue, blue, black).

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 115 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an order of a first element to a fourth element in said reference pattern when said specified color is red is any of (red, red, black, white), (black, black, red, white), (white, black, red, white), (black, red, red, white), (white, red, red, black) (black, black, red, black) or (white, black, red, black) and also an order of a first element to a fourth element in said reference pattern when said specified color is blue is any of (blue, blue, black, white), (black, black, blue, white), (white, black, blue, white), (black, blue, blue, white), (white, blue, blue, black), (black, black, blue, black), or (white, black, blue, black).

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 162 words

An image processing apparatus for separating a color image into three colors of red, green, and blue and converting said color image to a 2-color image including blue and black as specified colors and outputting the converted color image producing a visible 2-color image, wherein first and second correction values for blue and a threshold value for red are previously set, said image processing apparatus having a function for computing the following expressions to each pixel constituting said color image; Quantity of light for red>Threshold value for red (4) Quantity of light for blue>(Quantity of light for red+First correction value for blue) (5) Quantity of light for blue>(Quantity of light for red+Second correction value for blue) (6) and also having a color detector for recognizing blue for a pixel at which said expression (4) and said expression (5) are satisfied, or when said expression (4) is not satisfied and said expression (6) is satisfied and recognizing other pixels as not for blue.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 162 words

An image processing apparatus for separating a color image into three colors of red, green, and blue and converting said color image to a 2-color image including blue and black as specified colors and outputting the converted color image producing a visible 2-color image, wherein first and second correction values for blue and a threshold value for red are previously set, said image processing apparatus having a function for computing the following expressions to each pixel constituting said color image; Quantity of light for red>Threshold value for red (4) Quantity of light for blue>(Quantity of light for red+First correction value for blue) (5) Quantity of light for blue>(Quantity of light for red+Second correction value for blue) (6) and also having a color detector for recognizing blue for a pixel at which said expression (4) and said expression (5) are satisfied, or when said expression (4) is not satisfied and said expression (6) is satisfied and recognizing other pixels as not for blue.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 61 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 6, comprising a white and black determinator for computing, when said color detector recognized a pixel as for a color different from said specified color, a brightness value for the pixel and recognizing the pixel as for white when the computed value exceeds a preset threshold value or as for black in other cases.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 123 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 6, comprising a color displacement corrector for organizing, for each pixel constituting said color image, a 5×5 matrix with a color recognized for the pixel centering on the object pixel, extracting a plurality of linear patterns each comprising 4 elements and including the central pixel as a third pixel in each of the vertical, horizontal, and diagonal directions, comparing the linear patterns to a plurality of reference patterns previously set, and correcting a color of the pixel to black when there is any matching pattern and at the same time said object pixel is for a specified color, or to a specified color when there is any matching pattern and said object pixel is for black.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 99 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein an order of a first element to a fourth element in said reference pattern when said specified color is red is any of (red, red, black, white), (black, black, red, white), (white, black, red, white), (black, red, red, white), or (white, red, red, black) and also an order of a first element to a fourth element in said reference pattern when said specified color is blue is any of (blue, blue, black, white), (black, black, blue, white), (white, black, blue, white), (black, blue, blue, white) or (white, blue, blue, black).

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 115 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein an order of a first element to a fourth element in said reference pattern when said specified color is red is any of (red, red, black, white), (black, black, red, white), (white, black, red, white), (black, red, red, white), (white, red, red, black) (black, black, red, black) or (white, black, red, black) and also an order of a first element to a fourth element in said reference pattern when said specified color is blue is any of (blue, blue, black, white), (black, black, blue, white), (white, black, blue, white), (black, blue, blue, white), (white, blue, blue, black), (black, black, blue, black), or (white, black, blue, black).

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 206 words

An image processing method for converting an inputted color image consisting of a plurality of pixels to a 2-color image consisting of a black color and a specified color, comprising the steps of: determining whether an object pixel is for said specified color and, if said object pixel has been determined not to be for said specified color, determining whether said object pixel is for white or black; converting data for said object pixel to represent the specified color, black or white in accordance with the results of said determining step; arranging data representing converted input pixels of said color image, including said object pixel, into a matrix; comparing at least one portion of the matrix, which includes the converted data for said object pixel, with at least one reference pattern; obtaining resultant pixel data by changing the object pixel data in response to a match in said comparing step but keeping the object pixel data unchanged in the absence of a match, wherein said step of changing comprises converting the object pixel data to represent color if said determining step resulted in a non color determination and to represent black if said determining step resulted in a color determination; and outputting said resultant pixel data.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 206 words

An image processing method for converting an inputted color image consisting of a plurality of pixels to a 2-color image consisting of a black color and a specified color, comprising the steps of: determining whether an object pixel is for said specified color and, if said object pixel has been determined not to be for said specified color, determining whether said object pixel is for white or black; converting data for said object pixel to represent the specified color, black or white in accordance with the results of said determining step; arranging data representing converted input pixels of said color image, including said object pixel, into a matrix; comparing at least one portion of the matrix, which includes the converted data for said object pixel, with at least one reference pattern; obtaining resultant pixel data by changing the object pixel data in response to a match in said comparing step but keeping the object pixel data unchanged in the absence of a match, wherein said step of changing comprises converting the object pixel data to represent color if said determining step resulted in a non color determination and to represent black if said determining step resulted in a color determination; and outputting said resultant pixel data.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 49 words

An image processing method as recited in claim 11, wherein said comparing step comprises comparing said portion of the matrix with a plurality of reference patterns and said step of changing object pixel data is performed in response to a match with any of said plurality of reference patterns.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 30 words

An image processing method as recited in claim 12, wherein said comparing step is applied to a plurality of portions of said matrix, each portion including said object pixel data.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 38 words

An image processing method as recited in claim 11, wherein said determining step comprises: separating said inputted color image pixels into image signals for red, green and blue colors; and detecting brightness for said inputted color image pixels.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 196 words

An image processing apparatus for converting an inputted color image comprising a plurality of pixels to a 2-color image comprising a black color and a specified color comprising: a color determinator for determining whether an object pixel is for a specified color or not; a black and white determinator for determining whether said object pixel is for white or black; a converter coupled to said color determinator and said black and white determinator for converting data for said object pixel to represent the specified color, black or white; a matrix generator for arranging data representing converted input pixels of said color image, included said object pixel, into a matrix; pattern matching means for comparing at least one portion of said matrix, which includes the converted data for said object pixel, with at least one stored reference pattern; and color displacement correction means for changing the object pixel data only if there is a pattern match, the changed object pixel data being converted to represent the specified color if the black and white determinator determined non color for said object pixel or to represent black if said color determinator determined the specified color for said object pixel.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 196 words

An image processing apparatus for converting an inputted color image comprising a plurality of pixels to a 2-color image comprising a black color and a specified color comprising: a color determinator for determining whether an object pixel is for a specified color or not; a black and white determinator for determining whether said object pixel is for white or black; a converter coupled to said color determinator and said black and white determinator for converting data for said object pixel to represent the specified color, black or white; a matrix generator for arranging data representing converted input pixels of said color image, included said object pixel, into a matrix; pattern matching means for comparing at least one portion of said matrix, which includes the converted data for said object pixel, with at least one stored reference pattern; and color displacement correction means for changing the object pixel data only if there is a pattern match, the changed object pixel data being converted to represent the specified color if the black and white determinator determined non color for said object pixel or to represent black if said color determinator determined the specified color for said object pixel.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 55 words

An image processing apparatus as recited in claim 15, further comprising: a color separator for separating said inputted color image into image signals for red, green and blue, said color separator being coupled to said color determinator; and a brightness detector, coupled to receive said inputted color image, for detecting brightness of said color image.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-04-13	2001-10-13	2002-04-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-04-13	2005-10-13	2006-04-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-04-13	2009-10-13	2010-04-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Image processing method and image processing apparatus for converting an inputted color image into a two-color image

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