Image processing apparatus

• US 20060139353A1
• Filed: 10/11/2005
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Washio, Koji
• Granted Patent: US 7,619,627 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/467
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/203 Drawing of straight lines or curves

Abstract

An image processing apparatus having: a first screen processing section for performing a screen processing to image data; and an outline processing section for determining whether to output or not to output a dot with respect to an outline pixel of the image data, based on an outputting condition of a screen dot for a peripheral pixel of the outline pixel composing an outline area of an image in the image data that has been subjected to the screen processing by the first screen processing section.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a first screen processing section for performing a screen processing to image data; and

an outline processing section for determining whether to output or not to output a dot with respect to an outline pixel of the image data, based on an outputting condition of a screen dot for a peripheral pixel of the outline pixel composing an outline area of an image in the image data that has been subjected to the screen processing by the first screen processing section.

2. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outline processing section determines to output a dot with respect to the outline pixel, when the outline pixel and the peripheral pixel for which the screen dot is outputted are apart with each other by a prescribed distance or more.

3. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outline processing section judges the number of peripheral pixels for which screen dots are outputted at an area within a prescribed region from the outline pixel, and according to a result of judging the number, the outline processing section determines to output the dot with respect to the outline pixel.

4. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein when to output the dot is determined with respect the outline pixel, the outline processing section determines an outputting level of the dot.

5. The image processing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the outline processing section determines the output level of the dot according to a pixel value level of the outline pixel for which the dot is determined to be outputted, or to a pixel value level of the peripheral pixel.

6. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an outline extraction section for extracting an outline area from the image data, and for creating outline information indicating an outline pixel composing the extracted outline area,

wherein the outline processing section identifies the outline pixel based on the outline information created by the outline extracting section.

7. The image processing apparatus of claim 6, wherein the outline extracting section creates the outline information based on a PDL (Page Description Language) inputted or the image data with image distinguishing signals inputted with the image data.

8. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second screen processing section for performing a screen processing to the image data, wherein the outline processing section determines whether to output a dot with respect to the outline pixel of the image data having been subjected to the screen processing by the second screen processing section.

9. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first screen processing section performs the screen processing to the peripheral pixel of the outline pixel, and determines whether to output the screen dot with respect to the peripheral pixel.

10. The image processing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the screen processing by the first screen processing section and the screen processing by the second screen processing section are performed in parallel.

11. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a first screen processing section for performing a screen processing to image data; and

an outline processing section for changing an output level for the outline pixel of the image data, based on a result of the screen processing to a peripheral pixel of the outline pixel composing an outline area of an image in the image data that has been subjected to the screen processing by the first screen processing section.

12. The image processing apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a second screen processing section for performing a screen processing to the image data, wherein the outline processing section changes the output level with respect to the outline pixel of the image data, the image data having been subjected to the screen processing by the second screen processing section.

13. The image processing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first screen processing section performs the screen processing to the peripheral pixel of the outline pixel, and determines whether to output a screen dot with respect to the peripheral pixel.

14. The image processing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the screen processing by the first screen processing section and the screen processing by the second screen processing section are performed in parallel.

15. The image processing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the outline processing section changes the output level of the dot with respect to the outline pixel according to the pixel value level of the outline pixel or of the peripheral pixel.