US6631207B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image processor including processing for image data between edge or boundary portions of image data
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1999-03-17
•
Granted: 2003-10-07
•
Expires: 2019-03-17
Abstract
Abstract In order to improve character edge reproducibility in reproducing a color document image, a boundary between a character and a background is detected in color image data. Further, if the detected edge exists at the side of a character, it is decided as a true edge, and the image data are subjected to edge emphasis. Then, when an image is reproduced, undesirable partial whitening in characters in the image can be prevented.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshihiko Hirota
- 👤 Kazuhiro Ishiguro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:11
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T5/00; G06T5/70; G06T5/20; G06T5/73; G06T7/00; G06T7/10; G06T7/12; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/56; H04N1/58; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/10; G06T2207/10004; G06T2207/10008; G06T2207/10024; G06T2207/20; G06T2207/20004; G06T2207/20012; G06T2207/20172; G06T2207/20192; G06T2207/30; G06T2207/30176
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
An image processor which processes image data of an image consisting of a plurality of pixels, comprising: a first allocator which decides an edge portion in the image included in the image data and allocates a specified attribute as an attribute of pixels located in the edge portion; and a second allocator which allocates the specified attribute as an attribute of pixels located in an area interposed between two edge portions, wherein said second allocator spreads pixels having the specified attribute allocated by said first allocator in two dimensions, and performs thickening on the attributes of the spread pixels and thinning on them thereafter, whereby said second allocator allocates the specified attribute.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
An image processor which processes image data of an image consisting of a plurality of pixels, comprising: a first allocator which decides an edge portion in the image included in the image data and allocates a specified attribute as an attribute of pixels located in the edge portion; and a second allocator which allocates the specified attribute as an attribute of pixels located in an area interposed between two edge portions, wherein said second allocator spreads pixels having the specified attribute allocated by said first allocator in two dimensions, and performs thickening on the attributes of the spread pixels and thinning on them thereafter, whereby said second allocator allocates the specified attribute.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The image processor according to claim 1 , further comprising an image corrector which performs a specified correction for image data of the pixels to which the specified attribute is allocated by said first and second allocators.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The image processor according to claim 2 , wherein said first allocator decides a boundary between a character image and a background image as the edge portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The image processor according to claim 1 , wherein said first allocator decides a boundary between a character image and a background image as the edge portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
181 words
An image processor which processes image data of an image consisting of a plurality of pixels, comprising: a first allocator which decides a boundary portion between a character image and a background in the image included in the image data and allocates a specified attribute as an attribute of pixels located in the boundary portion; a second allocator which allocates the specified attribute as an attribute of pixels located in an area interposed between two boundary portions; an area discriminator which discriminates whether each of the image data belongs to a character image area or a background image area; and a corrector which performs a specified correction for image data of the pixels to which the specified attribute is allocated by said first and second allocators according to discrimination by said area discriminator; wherein in order to allocate the specified attribute, said second allocator spreads pixels having the specified attribute allocated by said first allocator in two dimensions, and performs thickening on the attributes of the spread pixels and thinning on them thereafter, whereby said second allocator allocates the specified attribute.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
181 words
An image processor which processes image data of an image consisting of a plurality of pixels, comprising: a first allocator which decides a boundary portion between a character image and a background in the image included in the image data and allocates a specified attribute as an attribute of pixels located in the boundary portion; a second allocator which allocates the specified attribute as an attribute of pixels located in an area interposed between two boundary portions; an area discriminator which discriminates whether each of the image data belongs to a character image area or a background image area; and a corrector which performs a specified correction for image data of the pixels to which the specified attribute is allocated by said first and second allocators according to discrimination by said area discriminator; wherein in order to allocate the specified attribute, said second allocator spreads pixels having the specified attribute allocated by said first allocator in two dimensions, and performs thickening on the attributes of the spread pixels and thinning on them thereafter, whereby said second allocator allocates the specified attribute.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
188 words
An image processor which processes image data of an image consisting of a plurality of pixels, comprising: a first allocator which decides a boundary portion between a character image and a background in the image included in the image data and allocates a specified attribute as an attribute of pixels located in the boundary portion; a second allocator which allocates the specified attribute as an attribute of pixels located in an area interposed between two boundary portions; an area discriminator which discriminates whether each of the image data belongs to a character image area or a background image area; and a corrector which performs a specified correction for image data of the pixels to which the specified attribute is allocated by said first and second allocators according to discrimination by said area discriminator, wherein said second allocator lays the pixels having the specified attribute allocated by said first allocator in two dimensions, and performs thickening on the attributes of the spread pixels and thinning on them thereafter, in the allocation of the specified attribute to pixels on which said area discriminator decides belong to a character image area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
188 words
An image processor which processes image data of an image consisting of a plurality of pixels, comprising: a first allocator which decides a boundary portion between a character image and a background in the image included in the image data and allocates a specified attribute as an attribute of pixels located in the boundary portion; a second allocator which allocates the specified attribute as an attribute of pixels located in an area interposed between two boundary portions; an area discriminator which discriminates whether each of the image data belongs to a character image area or a background image area; and a corrector which performs a specified correction for image data of the pixels to which the specified attribute is allocated by said first and second allocators according to discrimination by said area discriminator, wherein said second allocator lays the pixels having the specified attribute allocated by said first allocator in two dimensions, and performs thickening on the attributes of the spread pixels and thinning on them thereafter, in the allocation of the specified attribute to pixels on which said area discriminator decides belong to a character image area.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
128 words
An image processor which processes image data of an image consisting of a plurality of pixels, comprising: a first allocator for detecting a boundary portion between a character image and a background in the image included in the image data and assigning a specified attribute as an attribute of pixels located in the boundary portion; a second allocator for assigning said specified attribute as an attribute of pixels located in an area interposed between two boundary portions; a first emphasis means for emphasizing the detected edge portion of the image data to which the specified attribute is assigned by the first allocator; and a second emphasis means for emphasizing, by increasing the density thereof, the interposed portion to which the specified attribute is assigned by the second allocator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
128 words
An image processor which processes image data of an image consisting of a plurality of pixels, comprising: a first allocator for detecting a boundary portion between a character image and a background in the image included in the image data and assigning a specified attribute as an attribute of pixels located in the boundary portion; a second allocator for assigning said specified attribute as an attribute of pixels located in an area interposed between two boundary portions; a first emphasis means for emphasizing the detected edge portion of the image data to which the specified attribute is assigned by the first allocator; and a second emphasis means for emphasizing, by increasing the density thereof, the interposed portion to which the specified attribute is assigned by the second allocator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
180 words
An image processor which processes image data of an image consisting of a plurality of pixels, comprising: a first allocator which decides an edge portion in the image included in the image data and allocates a specified attribute as an attribute of pixels located in the edge portion; a second allocator which allocates the specified attribute as an attribute of pixels located in an area interposed between two edge portions; an area discriminator for discriminating whether the image data belongs to a character image area or a background image area; and a corrector for performing a specified correction on image data from one of at least two data sources in accordance with the discrimination of said area discriminator, wherein a first one of the at least two data sources provides image data that has been processed by said first allocator and that has bypassed said second allocator, and wherein a second one of the at least two data sources provides image data that has been processed by said first allocator and that has also been processed by said second allocator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
180 words
An image processor which processes image data of an image consisting of a plurality of pixels, comprising: a first allocator which decides an edge portion in the image included in the image data and allocates a specified attribute as an attribute of pixels located in the edge portion; a second allocator which allocates the specified attribute as an attribute of pixels located in an area interposed between two edge portions; an area discriminator for discriminating whether the image data belongs to a character image area or a background image area; and a corrector for performing a specified correction on image data from one of at least two data sources in accordance with the discrimination of said area discriminator, wherein a first one of the at least two data sources provides image data that has been processed by said first allocator and that has bypassed said second allocator, and wherein a second one of the at least two data sources provides image data that has been processed by said first allocator and that has also been processed by said second allocator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
81 words
The image processor according to claim 8 , wherein the corrector performs the specified correction on image data from the first one of the at least two data sources when the area discriminator discriminates that the image data belongs to the background image area, and wherein the corrector performs the specified correction on image data from the second one of the at least two data sources when the area discriminator discriminates that the image data belongs to the character image area.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The image processor according to claim 9 , wherein the corrector comprises one or more emphasis means, and wherein the specified correction performed by the corrector includes an edge emphasis process.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5838455A
Cited
US4010446A
Cited
US5357353A
Cited
US5974191A
Cited
US5850293A
Cited
US5867285A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-10-06 | 2007-04-07 | 2007-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-10-06 | 2011-04-07 | 2011-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-10-06 | 2015-04-07 | 2015-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |