Image-processing device processing image data by judging a detected and expanded Medium-density field as a non-character edge field

• US 20030048476A1
• Filed: 05/23/2002
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Yamakawa, Shinji
• Granted Patent: US 7,139,100 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/40062 Discrimination between different image types, e.g. two-tone, continuous tone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6072 adapting to different types of images, e.g. characters, graphs, black and white image portions

Abstract

An image-processing device applies a predetermined process to input image data so as to output the processed image data. The image-processing device comprises a medium-density detection unit, an expansion unit, and a non-character edge judgment unit. The medium-density detection unit detects a medium-density field of an image represented by the image data. The expansion unit applies an expansion process to the medium-density field detected by the medium-density detection unit. The non-character edge judgment unit judges the medium-density field applied with the expansion process by the expansion unit as a non-character edge field of the image represented by the image data.

Claims

1. An image-processing device applying a predetermined process to input image data so as to output the processed image data, the image-processing device comprising:

a medium-density detection unit detecting a medium-density field of an image represented by said image data;

an expansion unit applying an expansion process to said medium-density field detected by said medium-density detection unit; and

a non-character edge judgment unit judging said medium-density field applied with said expansion process by said expansion unit as a non-character edge field of said image represented by said image data.

2. The image-processing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said expansion unit applies said expansion process after applying a contraction process to said medium-density field detected by said medium-density detection unit.

3. The image-processing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said medium-density detection unit detects said medium-density field of said image represented by said image data by performing a pattern matching with respect to a multiple-line pattern.

4. The image-processing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an edge detection unit detecting an edge of said image represented by said image data.

5. An image-reading device comprising:

an image-reading unit reading an image of a subject copy by performing a color separation to said image of said subject copy so as to generate image data; and

an image-processing unit applying a predetermined process to said image data supplied from said image-reading unit so as to output the processed image data, the image-processing unit including;

a medium-density detection unit detecting a medium-density field of an image represented by said image data;

an expansion unit applying an expansion process to said medium-density field detected by said medium-density detection unit; and

a non-character edge judgment unit judging said medium-density field applied with said expansion process by said expansion unit as a non-character edge field of said image represented by said image data.

6. An image-forming device comprising:

an image-processing unit applying a predetermined process to input image data so as to output the processed image data, the image-processing unit including a medium-density detection unit detecting a medium-density field of an image represented by said image data, an expansion unit applying an expansion process to said medium-density field detected by said medium-density detection unit, and a non-character edge judgment unit judging said medium-density field applied with said expansion process by said expansion unit as a non-character edge field of said image represented by said image data; and

an image-outputting unit outputting the image by forming the image based on said processed image data output from said image-processing unit and transferring the formed image on a sheet.

7. A color-copying device comprising:

an image-reading unit reading an image of a subject copy by performing a color separation to said image of said subject copy so as to generate image data;

an image-processing unit applying a predetermined process to said image data supplied from said image-reading unit so as to output the processed image data, the image-processing unit including, a medium-density detection unit detecting a medium-density field of an image represented by said image data, an expansion unit applying an expansion process to said medium-density field detected by said medium-density detection unit, and a non-character edge judgment unit judging said medium-density field applied with said expansion process by said expansion unit as a non-character edge field of said image represented by said image data; and

an image-outputting unit outputting the image by forming the image based on said processed image data output from said image-processing unit and transferring the formed image on a sheet.

8. The color-copying device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a control unit analyzing a print command supplied from an external apparatus so as to cause said image-outputting unit to print out image information supplied from said external apparatus.