US5852677A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image data processing apparatus
Assignee: Kyocera Mita Industrial Co Ltd
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Filing: 1997-02-18
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Granted: 1998-12-22
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Expires: 2017-02-18
Abstract
Abstract An image data processing apparatus is provided which is capable of properly reproducing an input image by performing a simple and short-time process in accordance with the density and type of the input image. If the minimum value of inputted image data is not higher than a first threshold, the minimum value of the inputted image data is adopted as a minimum input value to be inputted to an image outputting apparatus. If the minimum value of the inputted image data is higher than the first threshold, a lower limit input image data value is adopted as the minimum input value. Further, if the maximum value of the inputted image data is not lower than a second threshold which is higher than the first threshold, the maximum value of the inputted image data is adopted as a maximum input value to be inputted to the image outputting apparatus. If the maximum value of the inputted image data is lower than the second threshold, an upper limit input image data value is adopted as the maximum input value. Thus, the inputted image is corrected so that inputted image data within a range between the minimum input value and the maximum input value correspond to data within a range between a lower limit value and an upper limit value for input to the image outputting apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 Koji Nakamura
- 👤 Masayuki Mizuno
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:06
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/407; H04N1/4072; G; G06; G06T; G06T5/00; G06T5/40; G06T5/90; G06T5/92; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/10; G06T2207/10004; G06T2207/10008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
345 words
An image data processing apparatus adapted to produce image data to be applied to image outputting means which is capable of producing pixels of a plurality of density gradation levels on the basis of inputted image data having values within a range between a lower limit value and an upper limit value, the image data processing apparatus comprising: first comparison means for comparing a minimum value of the inputted image data with a first threshold which is higher than a lower limit input value and lower than an upper limit input image data value; second comparison means for comparing a maximum value of the inputted image data with a second threshold which is higher than the first threshold and lower than the upper limit input image data value; minimum input value determining means for adopting the minimum value of the inputted image data as a minimum input value if the minimum value of the inputted image data is not higher than the first threshold, and adopting the lower limit input image data value as the minimum input value if the minimum value of the inputted image data is higher than the first threshold, on the basis of the comparison by the first comparison means; maximum input value determining means for adopting the maximum value of the inputted image data as a maximum input value if the maximum value of the inputted image data is not lower than the second threshold, and adopting the upper limit input image data value as the maximum input value if the maximum value of the inputted image data is lower than the second threshold, on the basis of the comparison by the second comparison means; and data correction means for correcting the inputted image data so that inputted image data within a range between the minimum input value and the maximum input value thus determined correspond to data within a range between the lower limit value and the upper limit value for input to the image outputting means, to prepare image data to be applied to the image outputting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
345 words
An image data processing apparatus adapted to produce image data to be applied to image outputting means which is capable of producing pixels of a plurality of density gradation levels on the basis of inputted image data having values within a range between a lower limit value and an upper limit value, the image data processing apparatus comprising: first comparison means for comparing a minimum value of the inputted image data with a first threshold which is higher than a lower limit input value and lower than an upper limit input image data value; second comparison means for comparing a maximum value of the inputted image data with a second threshold which is higher than the first threshold and lower than the upper limit input image data value; minimum input value determining means for adopting the minimum value of the inputted image data as a minimum input value if the minimum value of the inputted image data is not higher than the first threshold, and adopting the lower limit input image data value as the minimum input value if the minimum value of the inputted image data is higher than the first threshold, on the basis of the comparison by the first comparison means; maximum input value determining means for adopting the maximum value of the inputted image data as a maximum input value if the maximum value of the inputted image data is not lower than the second threshold, and adopting the upper limit input image data value as the maximum input value if the maximum value of the inputted image data is lower than the second threshold, on the basis of the comparison by the second comparison means; and data correction means for correcting the inputted image data so that inputted image data within a range between the minimum input value and the maximum input value thus determined correspond to data within a range between the lower limit value and the upper limit value for input to the image outputting means, to prepare image data to be applied to the image outputting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
An image data processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first threshold is set at a value which is higher than a data value corresponding to a background portion of a character document original and lower than a minimum data value of a gray-scale image.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
An image data processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second threshold is set at a value which is lower than a data value corresponding to a character portion of a character document original and higher than a maximum data value of a gray-scale image.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
An image data processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the image outputting means includes: a photoreceptor; exposure means for selectively exposing the photoreceptor to light to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the applied image data on a surface of the photoreceptor; a developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor into a toner image; and transfer means for transferring the toner image onto a sheet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
299 words
An image data processing process for producing image data to be applied to image outputting means which is capable of producing pixels of a plurality of density gradation levels on the basis of inputted image data having values within a range between a lower limit value and an upper limit value, the image data processing process comprising the steps of: comparing a minimum value of the inputted image data with a first threshold which is higher than a lower limit input value and lower than an upper limit input image data value; comparing a maximum value of the inputted image data with a second threshold which is higher than the first threshold and lower than the upper limit input image data value; adopting the minimum value of the inputted image data as a minimum input value if the minimum value of the inputted image data is not higher than the first threshold; adopting the lower limit input image data value as the minimum input value if the minimum value of the inputted image data is higher than the first threshold; adopting the maximum value of the inputted image data as a maximum input value if the maximum value of the inputted image data is not lower than the second threshold; adopting the upper limit input image data value as the maximum input value if the maximum value of the inputted image data is lower than the second threshold; and correcting the inputted image data so that inputted image data within a range between the minimum input value and the maximum input value thus determined correspond to data within a range between the lower limit value and the upper limit value for input to the image outputting means, to prepare image data to be applied to the image outputting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
299 words
An image data processing process for producing image data to be applied to image outputting means which is capable of producing pixels of a plurality of density gradation levels on the basis of inputted image data having values within a range between a lower limit value and an upper limit value, the image data processing process comprising the steps of: comparing a minimum value of the inputted image data with a first threshold which is higher than a lower limit input value and lower than an upper limit input image data value; comparing a maximum value of the inputted image data with a second threshold which is higher than the first threshold and lower than the upper limit input image data value; adopting the minimum value of the inputted image data as a minimum input value if the minimum value of the inputted image data is not higher than the first threshold; adopting the lower limit input image data value as the minimum input value if the minimum value of the inputted image data is higher than the first threshold; adopting the maximum value of the inputted image data as a maximum input value if the maximum value of the inputted image data is not lower than the second threshold; adopting the upper limit input image data value as the maximum input value if the maximum value of the inputted image data is lower than the second threshold; and correcting the inputted image data so that inputted image data within a range between the minimum input value and the maximum input value thus determined correspond to data within a range between the lower limit value and the upper limit value for input to the image outputting means, to prepare image data to be applied to the image outputting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process as set forth in claim 5, wherein the first threshold is set at a value which is higher than a data value corresponding to a background portion of a character document original and lower than a minimum data value of a gray-scale image.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A process as set forth in claim 5, wherein the second threshold is set at a value which is lower than a data value corresponding to a character portion of a character document original and higher than a maximum-data value of a gray-scale image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
338 words
An image outputting apparatus for outputting an image on the basis of inputted image data having values within a range between a lower limit value and an upper limit value, the image outputting apparatus comprising: image outputting means capable of producing pixels of a plurality of density gradation levels; first comparison means for comparing a minimum value of the inputted image data with a first threshold which is higher than a lower limit input image data value and lower than an upper limit input image data value; second comparison means for comparing a maximum value of the inputted image data with a second threshold which is higher than the first threshold and lower than the upper limit input image data value; minimum input value determining means for adopting the minimum value of the inputted image data as a minimum input value if the minimum value of the inputted image data is not higher than the first threshold, and adopting the lower limit input image data value as the minimum input value if the minimum value of the inputted image data is higher than the first threshold, on the basis of the comparison by the first comparison means; maximum input value determining means for adopting the maximum value of the inputted image data as a maximum input value if the maximum value of the inputted image data is not lower than the second threshold, and adopting the upper limit input image data value as the maximum input value if the maximum value of the inputted image data is lower than the second threshold, on the basis of the comparison by the second comparison means; and data correction means for correcting the inputted image data so that inputted image data within a range between the minimum input value and the maximum input value thus determined correspond to data within a range between the lower limit value and the upper limit value for input to the image outputting means, to prepare image data to be applied to the image outputting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
338 words
An image outputting apparatus for outputting an image on the basis of inputted image data having values within a range between a lower limit value and an upper limit value, the image outputting apparatus comprising: image outputting means capable of producing pixels of a plurality of density gradation levels; first comparison means for comparing a minimum value of the inputted image data with a first threshold which is higher than a lower limit input image data value and lower than an upper limit input image data value; second comparison means for comparing a maximum value of the inputted image data with a second threshold which is higher than the first threshold and lower than the upper limit input image data value; minimum input value determining means for adopting the minimum value of the inputted image data as a minimum input value if the minimum value of the inputted image data is not higher than the first threshold, and adopting the lower limit input image data value as the minimum input value if the minimum value of the inputted image data is higher than the first threshold, on the basis of the comparison by the first comparison means; maximum input value determining means for adopting the maximum value of the inputted image data as a maximum input value if the maximum value of the inputted image data is not lower than the second threshold, and adopting the upper limit input image data value as the maximum input value if the maximum value of the inputted image data is lower than the second threshold, on the basis of the comparison by the second comparison means; and data correction means for correcting the inputted image data so that inputted image data within a range between the minimum input value and the maximum input value thus determined correspond to data within a range between the lower limit value and the upper limit value for input to the image outputting means, to prepare image data to be applied to the image outputting means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
An image outputting apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein the first threshold is set at a value which is higher than a data value corresponding to a background portion of a character document original and lower than a minimum data value of a gray-scale image.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
An image outputting apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein the second threshold is set at a value which is lower than a data value corresponding to a character portion of a character document original and higher than a maximum data value of a gray-scale image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
76 words
An image outputting apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein the image outputting means includes: a photoreceptor; exposure means for selectively exposing the photoreceptor to light to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the applied image data on a surface of the photoreceptor; a developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor into a toner image; and transfer means for transferring the toner image onto a sheet.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4972501A
Cited
US5280546A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-12-21 | 2002-06-22 | 2002-12-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-21 | 2006-06-22 | 2006-12-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-21 | 2010-06-22 | 2010-12-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |