Optimizing the advantages of multi-level rendering

• US 20030179954A1
• Filed: 03/25/2002
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Chang, Ching-Wei, Hurtz, Robert William
• Granted Patent: US 7,046,863 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/299
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/12 involving antialiasing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/4023 based on decimating pixels or lines of pixels; based on inserting pixels or lines of pixels

Abstract

Systems and methods for optimizing the advantages of multi-level rendering of text and/or graphics at an output device by providing an alternate manner to perform multi-level rendering. A computer device, employed to render an image or graphical entity, is connected to an output device, and a request is received at the computer device to render a graphical entity at the output device. The resolution of the output device is identified and the data corresponding to graphical entity is translated to a resolution that is higher than the resolution of the output device. A conversion or translation is then performed to scale the image data from the higher resolution to the resolution of the output device. Optionally, a halftone matrix is employed to eliminate aliasing. The graphical entity is then more accurately rendered at the output device than by utilizing traditional techniques.

Claims

1. A rendering system configured to enhance the rendering of a graphical entity, the system comprising:

an output device having a first resolution and configured to selectively render the graphical entity at the first resolution, and wherein the output device is configured to utilize multi-bit pixel data; and

a computer device coupled to the output device and configured to process image data relating to the graphical entity, wherein the processing includes translating the image data to a resolution that is higher than the first resolution and mapping the image data at the higher resolution to the first resolution for rendering the graphical entity at the output device.

2. A rendering system as recited in claim 1, wherein the output device is one of:

(i) a monitor;

(ii) a printer; and

(iii) a plotter.

3. A rendering system as recited in claim 2, wherein the monitor is an LCD screen.

4. A rendering system as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer device is internal to the output device.

5. A rendering system as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer device is one of:

(i) a personal computer;

(ii) a notebook computer;

(iii) a hand-held device;

(iv) a workstation;

(v) a minicomputer;

(vi) a mainframe;

(vii) a supercomputer;

(viii) a multi-processor system;

(ix) a network computer; and

(x) a processor-based consumer electronic device.

6. A rendering system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a network that couples the computer device to the output device.

7. A rendering system as recited in claim 6, wherein the network comprises at least one of:

(i) a local area network; and

(ii) a wide area network.

8. A rendering system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first resolution is 600 dpi.

9. A rendering system as recited in claim 8, wherein the output device is configured to utilize 4-bit pixel data.

10. A rendering system as recited in claim 9, wherein the higher resolution is 1200 dpi.

11. In a system that includes an output device that utilizes multi-bit pixel data, a method for optimizing a rendering of a graphical entity, the method comprising the steps for:

providing a request to render a graphical entity at an output device, wherein the output device includes a first resolution;

translating image data corresponding to the graphical entity to a resolution that is higher than the first resolution;

selectively mapping the image data the higher resolution the first resolution; and

using the image data mapped to the first resolution to render the graphical entity at the output device.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the step for providing a request includes the step for receiving a request to render the graphical entity at the output device.

13. A method as recited in claim 11, further providing the step for identifying the first resolution.

14. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the step for selectively mapping comprises the steps for:

(i) mapping pixels of the higher resolution to pixels of the first resolution;

(ii) selectively determining from the pixels of the higher resolution a shading for the corresponding pixels of the first resolution; and

(iii) applying the shading to the corresponding pixels of the first resolution.

15. A method as recited in claim 11, further comprising the step for determining whether to employ a half-tone maxtrix, and wherein if the half-tone matrix is to be employed, performing the step for applying the half-tone matrix.

16. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the first resolution is 600 dpi and the higher resolution is 1200 dpi.

17. A computer program product for implementing within a computer system a method for optimizing a rendering of a graphical entity, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium for providing computer program code means utilized to implement the method, wherein the computer program code means is comprised of executable code for implementing the steps for;

providing a request to render a graphical entity at an output device, wherein the output device includes a first resolution;

translating image data corresponding to the graphical entity to a resolution that is higher than the first resolution;

selectively mapping the image data the higher resolution the first resolution; and

using the image data mapped to the first resolution to render the graphical entity at the output device.

18. A computer program product as recited in claim 17, wherein the step for selectively mapping comprises the steps for:

(i) mapping pixels of the higher resolution to pixels of the first resolution;

(ii) selectively determining from the pixels of the higher resolution a shading for the corresponding pixels of the first resolution; and

(iii) applying the shading to the corresponding pixels of the first resolution.

19. A computer program product as recited in claim 17, wherein the computer program code means is further comprised of executable code for implementing the steps for:

(i) determining whether to employ a half-tone maxtrix; and

(ii) applying the half-tone matrix if the half-tone matrix is to be employed.

20. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the first resolution is 600 dpi and the higher resolution is 1200 dpi.