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US6061145A
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Image processing apparatus and method using dot patterns
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1997-08-29
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Granted: 2000-05-09
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Expires: 2017-08-29
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to an image processing method and an image processing apparatus, and an object thereof is to improve resolution and also suppress indention of contour, thereby improving image quality. In order to achieve the object in a case where multi-gradation image data is quantized to be converted into quantized pixel patterns, a smoothing portion of a quantized image is detected and a contour of the quantized image is corrected by interpolating pixels of the detected smoothing portion the quantized pixel pattern of the smoothing portion in the detected quantized image is replaced by a pixel pattern for smoothing stored in a memory.
Inventors
- 👤 Hidehiko Kanda
- 👤 Naoji Otsuka
- 👤 Kentaro Yano
- 👤 Kiichiro Takahashi
- 👤 Hitoshi Nishikori
- 👤 Osamu Iwasaki
- 👤 Daigoro Kanematsu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:08
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/405; H04N1/4055; G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06T; G06T11/00; G06T11/10; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0002; G06K2215/0062; G06K2215/0071
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting multi-level image data; quantizing means for quantizing the multi-level image data and generating N-level (N×3) image data; and converting means for converting the N-level image data, wherein the N-level image data corresponds to dot patterns in accordance with a level of the N-level image data, and said converting means converts the N-level image data based on an arrangement of the dot pattern, and wherein said converting means chances the dot pattern in accordance with an arrangement of the N-level image data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting multi-level image data; quantizing means for quantizing the multi-level image data and generating N-level (N×3) image data; and converting means for converting the N-level image data, wherein the N-level image data corresponds to dot patterns in accordance with a level of the N-level image data, and said converting means converts the N-level image data based on an arrangement of the dot pattern, and wherein said converting means chances the dot pattern in accordance with an arrangement of the N-level image data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said converting means performs a smoothing process on an edge of an image represented by the dot patterns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said converting means performs the converting on a part of an image to be processed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the part of the image is a line image portion of the image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said converting means performs the converting on a part of a plurality of colors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the part of the colors is black.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said converting means does not perform the converting on the other part of the colors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dot pattern is a bi-level dot pattern.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dot pattern is used for a pseudo-halftone process.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising image forming means for forming an image based on the dot patterns.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said image forming means is an inkjet printer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the converting of said converting means is performed by a computer software.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
87 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: inputting multi-level image data; quantizing the multi-level image data and generating N-level (N×3) image data; and converting the N-level image data, wherein the N-level image data corresponds to dot patterns in accordance with a level of the N-level image data, and the converting of the N-level image data in said converting step is performed based on an arrangement of the dot pattern, and wherein said dot pattern is changed in accordance with the arrangement of said N-level image data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
87 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: inputting multi-level image data; quantizing the multi-level image data and generating N-level (N×3) image data; and converting the N-level image data, wherein the N-level image data corresponds to dot patterns in accordance with a level of the N-level image data, and the converting of the N-level image data in said converting step is performed based on an arrangement of the dot pattern, and wherein said dot pattern is changed in accordance with the arrangement of said N-level image data.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-05-09 | 2003-11-08 | 2004-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-09 | 2007-11-08 | 2008-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-09 | 2011-11-08 | 2012-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |