Image processing apparatus and method

• US 20060008146A1
• Filed: 09/16/2005
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Matsukubo, Yushi, Yamakawa, Junichi, Ohta, Ken-ichi, Funada, Masahiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,424,152 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1822 Analysing the received data before processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1852 involving combining data of different types
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0065 Page or partial page composition
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/40062 Discrimination between different image types, e.g. two-tone, continuous tone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4056 the pattern varying in one dimension only, e.g. dash length, pulse width modulation [PWM]

Abstract

In order to produce a high-quality output of an image which is a mixture of images having different characteristics, there is provided an image processing apparatus having an image memory storing an entered color image and a feature detector, arranged for detecting a feature signal from the entered color image and storing the feature signal in the image memory. The feature signal represents a feature of the entered color image. An outputter is arranged for reading an image signal of the entered color image and the feature signal thereof out of the image memory, and outputting the image and feature signals as a recording signal. Processors are arranged for respectively processing one of a number of color components, which represent color image information, in accordance with the recording signal. The detection and storage in the image memory of feature signals and the readout of the image signal and associated feature signal from the image memory are performed in parallel.

Claims

1-57. -57. (canceled)

58. An image processing apparatus comprising:

an image memory storing an entered color image;

a feature detector, arranged for detecting a feature signal from the entered color image and storing the feature signal in said image memory, the feature signal representing a feature of the entered color image;

an outputter, arranged for reading an image signal of the entered color image and the feature signal thereof out of said image memory, and outputting the image and feature signals as a recording signal; and

a plurality of processors, arranged for respectively processing one of a plurality of color components, which represent color image information, in accordance with the recording signal,

wherein detection and storage in said image memory of feature signals and readout of the image signal and feature signal thereof from said image memory, are performed in parallel.

59. An image processing apparatus comprising:

an image storage, arranged for storing an entered image signal;

a feature detector which, if the image signal has been entered from external equipment, reads an image signal output of said image storage, generates a feature signal representing a feature of each and every pixel and stores the feature signal in said image storage;

an output section, arranged for reading the image signal and feature signal thereof out of said image storage and outputting them as a recording signal; and

a plurality of processors, arranged for respectively processing one of a plurality of color components, which represent color image information, in accordance with the recording signal.

60. The apparatus according to claim 59, wherein generation of the feature signal, storage of the feature signal thereof in said image storage and readout of the image signal and feature signal thereof out from said image storage are performed in parallel.

61. The apparatus according to claim 59, further comprising a converter arranged for converting the image signal to a recording signal in which importance is placed upon resolution or a recording signal in which importance is placed upon tonality, based upon the feature signal.

62. The apparatus according to claim 59, wherein the feature signal indicates whether each pixel forms a character or a line drawing.

63. The apparatus according to claim 61, wherein, on the basis of the feature signal, said converter converts an image signal of a pixel, which forms a character or line drawing, to a recording signal in which importance is placed upon resolution, and converts an image signal of a pixel, which forms an area other than a character or line drawing, to a recording signal in which importance is placed upon tonality.

64. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

reading an entered color image stored in an image memory;

detecting a feature signal representing a feature of the entered color image and storing the feature signal in the image memory;

reading a color image signal of the entered color image and the feature signal thereof out of the image memory and outputting the color image and feature signals as a recording signal; and

processing a plurality of color components representing color image information in accordance with the recording signal by using a plurality of processors, each of which processes one of the plurality of color components,

wherein detection and storage in the image memory of feature signals, and reading of the image signal and feature signal from the image memory, are performed in parallel.

65. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

reading an image signal out of an image storage which stores the image signal in a case where the image signal has been entered from external equipment;

generating a feature signal representing a feature of each and every pixel of the read image signal and storing the feature signal in the image storage;

reading the image signal and feature signal thereof out of the image storage, and outputting them as a recording signal; and

processing a plurality of color components representing color image information in accordance with the recording signal by using a plurality of processors, each of which processes one of the plurality of color components.