Image data processing machine

• US 20050219620A1
• Filed: 11/01/2004
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Ohshita, Masakazu
• Granted Patent: US 7,372,992 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/3.10
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/12 involving antialiasing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/70 Denoising; Smoothing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4092 Edge or detail enhancement

Abstract

An image data processing machine implementing image processing of image data input with different resolution values in consideration of resolution and qualities of image outputs. A digital reproduction apparatus incorporating the image data processing machine retrieves correction data stored in advance on an objective pixel by a memory block according to pattern code information generated by a pattern recognition mechanism as an address and renders the correction data to be multi-valued. The memory block converts image data from binary to multi-value, in which the process of data conversion is different between a first case of image data output with the same resolution as input data and a second case of image data output with an arbitrary resolution at least twice higher, and which image data are output with a variable power of two in the direction of 2×H times pixel increase with respect to a pixel composition of fully white and fully black pixels of Y-bit multi-valued input binary image data by a multiple density mode image pattern generator.

Claims

1. An image data processing machine, comprising:

a memory unit configured to store image data of at least N lines among input binary image data expanded into a bitmap with an arbitrary resolution;

a window unit configured to extract respective pixel data in a predetermined region centering around an objective pixel among stored image data, said stored image data being stored in said memory unit and being expanded into the bitmap of M pixels in a main scanning direction and N lines of said M pixels in a vertical scanning direction;

a pattern recognition unit configured, after recognizing a line segment feature of a boundary between a black pixel region and a white pixel in said respective pixel data extracted by said window unit, to generate pattern code information with plural bits for characterizing said line segment feature concerning to said objective pixel;

a discriminant unit configured, utilizing at least a portion of said pattern code information, to discriminate whether said objective pixel is required to be corrected as a pixel for forming an oblique line or a circular arc; and

a memory block unit configured to retrieve correction data stored in advance for pixels discriminated as to be corrected by said discriminant unit among said objective pixels according to said pattern code information generated by said pattern recognition unit as an address, and to render said correction data to be multi-valued and subsequently be output;

wherein

said memory block unit is configured, in a process of rendering said input binary image data expanded into a bitmap with an arbitrary solution to be multi-valued based on characteristics of said line segment feature recognized by said pattern recognition unit, to implement data conversion during an image data conversion from binary to multi-value that differs between a first case in which multi-valued image data are output with a same resolution as input image data and a second case in which further multi-valued image data are output with an arbitrary resolution at least twice higher, and with an increased number of pixels at least twice larger, than said input image data; and

wherein,

in said second case in which said input binary image data with an arbitrary solution are output as Y-bit multi-valued image data with a resolution of at least twice larger and with an increased number of pixels of H (≧

2) times than that of said input image data, said memory block unit is further provided with a multiple density mode image pattern generator configured to implement a conversion of said Y-bit multi-valued image data with an arbitrary resolution into two kinds of data indicative of fully white and fully black pixels among said Y-bit multi-valued input binary image data so that, in a case in which said input binary image data with an arbitrary solution are output as Y-bit multi-valued image data with an increased number of pixels of 2×

H times, image data are output by said multiple density mode image pattern generator with a variable power of two in a direction of 2×

H times pixel increase with respect to a pixel composition of said fully white and fully black pixels of Y-bit multi-valued input binary image data with an arbitrary resolution with an increased number of pixels of H-times.

2. The image data processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the input image binary data are output as Y-bit multi-valued image data with a resolution two times larger than that of said input image binary data.

3. The image data processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the input image binary data are output as Y-bit multi-valued image data with a resolution three times larger than that of said input image binary data.

4. The image data processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the input image binary data are output as Y-bit multi-valued image data with a resolution four times larger than that of said input image binary data.

5. The image data processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the input image binary data are output as Y-bit multi-valued image data with a resolution six times larger than that of said input image binary data.

6. The image data processing machine according to claim 1, wherein

said multiple density mode image pattern generator generates, as said two kinds of Y-bit multi-valued data indicative of fully white and fully black pixels with an arbitrary resolution, a plurality of sets of data different for respective pixel compositions each designated by a prime number specified by a number of multiplication H of pixels in said image output with respect to image input.

7. An image data processing machine, comprising:

means for storing image data of at least N lines among input binary image data expanded into a bitmap with an arbitrary resolution;

means for extracting respective pixel data in a predetermined region centering around an objective pixel among stored image data, said stored image data being stored in said means for storing and being expanded into the bitmap of M pixels in a main scanning direction and N lines of said M pixels in a vertical scanning direction;

means, after recognizing a line segment feature of a boundary between a black pixel region and a white pixel in said respective pixel data extracted by said window means, for generating pattern code information with plural bits for characterizing said line segment feature concerning to said objective pixel;

means, utilizing at least a portion of said pattern code information, for discriminating whether said objective pixel is required to be corrected as a pixel for forming an oblique line or a circular arc; and

means for retrieving correction data stored in advance for pixels discriminated as to be corrected by said means for discriminating among said objective pixels according to said pattern code information generated by said pattern recognition unit as an address, and rendering said correction data to be multi-valued and subsequently be output;

wherein

said means for retrieving, in a process of rendering said input binary image data expanded into a bitmap with an arbitrary solution to be multi-valued based on characteristics of said line segment feature recognized by said pattern recognition means, implements data conversion during an image data conversion from binary to multi-value different between a first case in which multi-valued image data are output with a same resolution as input image data and a second case in which further multi-valued image data are output with an arbitrary resolution at least twice higher, and with an increased number of pixels at least twice larger, than said input image data; and

wherein,

in said second case in which said input binary image data with an arbitrary solution are output as Y-bit multi-valued image data with a resolution of at least twice larger and with an increased number of pixels of H (≧

2) times than that of said input image data, said means for retrieving is further provided with a means for implementing a conversion of said Y-bit multi-valued image data with an arbitrary resolution into two kinds of data indicative of fully white and fully black pixels among said Y-bit multi-valued input binary image data so that, in a case in which said input binary image data with an arbitrary solution are output as Y-bit multi-valued image data with an increased number of pixels of 2×

H times, image data are output by said means for implementing a conversion with a variable power of two in a direction of 2×

H times pixel increase with respect to a pixel composition of said fully white and fully black pixels of Y-bit multi-valued input binary image data with an arbitrary resolution with an increased number of pixels of H-times.

8. The image data processing machine according to claim 7, wherein the input image binary data are output as Y-bit multi-valued image data with a resolution two times larger than that of said input image binary data.

9. The image data processing machine according to claim 7, wherein the input image binary data are output as Y-bit multi-valued image data with a resolution three times larger than that of said input image binary data.

10. The image data processing machine according to claim 7, wherein the input image binary data are output as Y-bit multi-valued image data with a resolution four times larger than that of said input image binary data.

11. The image data processing machine according to claim 7, wherein the input image binary data are output as Y-bit multi-valued image data with a resolution six times larger than that of said input image binary data.

12. The image data processing machine according to claim 7, wherein

said multiple means for implementing a conversion generates, as said two kinds of Y-bit multi-valued data indicative of fully white and fully black pixels with an arbitrary resolution, a plurality of sets of data different for respective pixel compositions each designated by a prime number specified by a number of multiplication H of pixels in said image output with respect to image input.

13. An image data processing method, comprising:

storing image data of at least N lines among input binary image data expanded into a bitmap with an arbitrary resolution;

extracting respective pixel data in a predetermined region centering around an objective pixel among stored image data, said stored image data being expanded into the bitmap of M pixels in a main scanning direction and N lines of said M pixels in a vertical scanning direction;

generating, after recognizing a line segment feature of a boundary between a black pixel region and a white pixel in said extracted respective pixel data, pattern code information with plural bits for characterizing said line segment feature concerning to said objective pixel;

discriminating, utilizing at least a portion of said pattern code information, whether said objective pixel is required to be corrected as a pixel for forming an oblique line or a circular arc; and

retrieving correction data stored in advance for pixels discriminated as to be corrected among said objective pixels according to said pattern code information generated as an address, and rendering said correction data to be multi-valued and subsequently be output;

wherein

said retrieving, in a process of rendering said input binary image data expanded into a bitmap with an arbitrary solution to be multi-valued based on characteristics of said line segment feature recognized, implements data conversion during an image data conversion from binary to multi-value different between a first case in which multi-valued image data are output with a same resolution as input image data and a second case in which further multi-valued image data are output with an arbitrary resolution at least twice higher, and with an increased number of pixels at least twice larger, than said input image data; and

wherein,

in said second case in which said input binary image data with an arbitrary solution are output as Y-bit multi-valued image data with a resolution of at least twice larger and with an increased number of pixels of H (≧

2) times than that of said input image data, said retrieving further implements a conversion of said Y-bit multi-valued image data with an arbitrary resolution into two kinds of data indicative of fully white and fully black pixels among said Y-bit multi-valued input binary image data so that, in a case in which said input binary image data with an arbitrary solution are output as Y-bit multi-valued image data with an increased number of pixels of 2×

H times, image data are output for implementing a conversion with a variable power of two in a direction of 2×

H times pixel increase with respect to a pixel composition of said fully white and fully black pixels of Y-bit multi-valued input binary image data with an arbitrary resolution with an increased number of pixels of H-times.

14. The image data processing machine according to claim 13, wherein the input image binary data are output as Y-bit multi-valued image data with a resolution two times larger than that of said input image binary data.

15. The image data processing machine according to claim 13, wherein the input image binary data are output as Y-bit multi-valued image data with a resolution three times larger than that of said input image binary data.

16. The image data processing machine according to claim 13, wherein the input image binary data are output as Y-bit multi-valued image data with a resolution four times larger than that of said input image binary data.

17. The image data processing machine according to claim 13, wherein the input image binary data are output as Y-bit multi-valued image data with a resolution six times larger than that of said input image binary data.

18. The image data processing machine according to claim 13, wherein

said implementing a conversion generates, as said two kinds of Y-bit multi-valued data indicative of fully white and fully black pixels with an arbitrary resolution, a plurality of sets of data different for respective pixel compositions each designated by a prime number specified by a number of multiplication H of pixels in said image output with respect to image input.