Image processing apparatus, image reading apparatus and image recording apparatus

• US 20060109521A1
• Filed: 11/17/2005
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Shimazawa, Yohichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,680,338 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/462
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/248 involving plural approaches, e.g. verification by template match; Resolving confusion among similar patterns, e.g. "O" versus "Q" G06V30/242 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00843 based on recognising a copy prohibited original, e.g. a banknote pattern authentication and markers therefor, forgery detection G06V20/95; character recognition G06V30/10; document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/40; testing paper currency or similar valuable papers for genuineness G07D7/00

Abstract

An image processing apparatus for receiving image data composed of a plurality of pixels, extracting an area from an image based on the received data and detecting a type of an image included in the extracted area, includes means for calculating the ratio of pixels having a predetermined pixel value to pixels constituting the area, and detects the type of the image included in the area, based on the calculated ratio of pixels.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising

a controller capable of performing operations of:

receiving image data composed of a plurality of pixels;

extracting an area from an image based on the received image data;

calculating a ratio of pixels having a predetermined pixel value in pixels constituting the extracted area; and

detecting a type of an image included in the area, based on the calculated ratio of pixels.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a table that defines a relation between a type of an image to be detected and the ratio of pixels having the pixel value in the area including the image, wherein

the type of the image is detected by referring to the relation defined in said table.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said controller is further capable of performing operations of:

receiving information about the relation; and

changing said table based on the received information.

4. An image reading apparatus comprising:

a reading section for reading an image recorded on a sheet; and

an image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein

an area is extracted from an image read by said reading section, and a type of an image included in the extracted area is detected.

5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a controller capable of performing operations of:

determining whether or not the type of the image detected by said image processing apparatus is a predetermined type; and

outputting information indicating a determination result when a determination is made that the detected type is the predetermined type.

6. An image recording apparatus comprising:

an image reading apparatus as set forth in claim 4;

and

a recording section for recording an image read by said image reading apparatus on a sheet.

7. The image recording apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a controller capable of performing operations of

determining whether or not the type of the image detected by said image reading apparatus is a predetermined type;

and

prohibiting recording of the image read by said image reading apparatus on a sheet when a determination is made that the detected type is the predetermined type.

8. The image recording apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a controller capable of performing operations of:

determining whether or not the type of the image detected by said image reading apparatus is a predetermined type;

receiving information about a user when a determination is made that the detected type is the predetermined type,;

authenticating a user based on the received information; and

prohibiting recording of the image read by said image reading apparatus on a sheet when a determination is made that a user cannot be authenticated.

9. An image processing apparatus comprising

means for receiving image data composed of a plurality of pixels;

means for extracting an area from an image based on the received image data;

means for calculating a ratio of pixels having a predetermined pixel value in pixels constituting the extracted area; and

means for detecting a type of an image included in the area, based on the calculated ratio of pixels.

10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a table that defines a relation between a type of an image to be detected and the ratio of pixels having the pixel value in the area including the image, wherein

the type of the image is detected by referring to the relation defined in said table.

11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

means for receiving information about the relation; and

means for changing said table based on the received information.

12. An image reading apparatus comprising:

scan means for reading an image recorded on a sheet; and

an image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein

an area is extracted from an image read by said scan means, and a type of an image included in the extracted area is detected.

13. The image reading apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

means for determining whether or not the type of the image detected by said image processing is a predetermined type; and

means for outputting information indicating a determination result when a determination is made that the detected type is the predetermined type.

14. An image recording apparatus comprising:

an image reading apparatus as set forth in claim 12;

and

means for recording an image read by said image reading apparatus on a sheet.

15. The image recording apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising:

means for determining whether or not the type of the image detected by said image reading apparatus is a predetermined type; and

means for prohibiting recording of the image read by said image reading apparatus on a sheet when a determination is made that the detected type is the predetermined type.

16. The image recording apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising:

means for determining whether or not the type of the image detected by said image reading apparatus is a predetermined type;

means for receiving information about a user when a determination is made that the detected type is the predetermined type;

means for authenticating a user based on the received information; and

means for prohibiting recording of the image read by said image reading apparatus on a sheet when a determination is made that a user cannot be authenticated.