Apparatus and method for area designation on a document
First Claim
1. A method for forming a rectangular area having a pre-existing figure inscribed therein, the rectangular area having exactly four sides regardless of the shape of the pre-existing figure, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) scanning a sheet on which is inscribed the pre-existing figure, and outputting pixel data representing the figure, each pixel datum of the pixel data being one binary digit;
b) storing the pixel data in a first memory;
c) scanning the pixel data in the first memory in accordance with each of four combinations of directions defined by main and sub scanning directions and, for each of the four combinations, reading out a pixel datum relating to a pixel of concern and pixel data relating to at least two pixels adjacent thereto;
d) performing, for each of the combinations, a first logic operation on the pixel datum relating to the pixel of concern and the pixel data relating to at least the two pixels adjacent thereto, and outputting results of the first logic operation obtained for the four combinations;
e) storing the results of the first logic operation in a second memory; and
f) performing a second logic operation on the results of the first logic operation obtained for the four combinations, and outputting a result of the second logic operation which forms the rectangular area in which the figure is inscribed, wherein the rectangular area may have pixels other than the pixels of the pre-existing figure.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for designating a rectangular area on a document includes the following procedure. During a first step, data of a pixel of concern and data of pixels adjacent thereto are read out from a first memory by scanning the memory in accordance with each of four combinations of main and sub scanning directions. Next, a first logic operation is carried out with respect to the pixel data. During a third step, a result of the first logic operation is stored in the first memory. Then, a second logic operation is performed on the result of the first logic operation which is obtained in each combination of the scanning directions. A group of results of the second logic operation with respect to each pixel represents the rectangular area which has the drawn figure as an inscribed figure and is filled with pixel data having a value identical to that of pixel data forming a contour image of the drawn figure. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A method for forming a rectangular area having a pre-existing figure inscribed therein, the rectangular area having exactly four sides regardless of the shape of the pre-existing figure, the method comprising the steps of:
-
a) scanning a sheet on which is inscribed the pre-existing figure, and outputting pixel data representing the figure, each pixel datum of the pixel data being one binary digit; b) storing the pixel data in a first memory; c) scanning the pixel data in the first memory in accordance with each of four combinations of directions defined by main and sub scanning directions and, for each of the four combinations, reading out a pixel datum relating to a pixel of concern and pixel data relating to at least two pixels adjacent thereto; d) performing, for each of the combinations, a first logic operation on the pixel datum relating to the pixel of concern and the pixel data relating to at least the two pixels adjacent thereto, and outputting results of the first logic operation obtained for the four combinations; e) storing the results of the first logic operation in a second memory; and f) performing a second logic operation on the results of the first logic operation obtained for the four combinations, and outputting a result of the second logic operation which forms the rectangular area in which the figure is inscribed, wherein the rectangular area may have pixels other than the pixels of the pre-existing figure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An apparatus for forming a rectangular area having a pre-existing figure inscribed therein, the rectangular area having exactly four sides regardless of the shape of the pre-existing figure, the apparatus comprising:
-
a) scanning means for scanning a sheet on which is inscribed the figure, and for outputting pixel data representing the figure, each pixel datum of the pixel data being one binary digit; b) first memory means for storing the pixel data output by the scanning means; c) means for scanning the pixel data in the first memory means in accordance with each of four combinations of directions defined by main and sub scanning directions, and, for each of the four combinations, reading out a pixel datum relating to a pixel of concern and pixel data relating to at least two pixels adjacent thereto; d) first operation means, for each of the combinations, for performing a first logic operation on the pixel datum relating to the pixel of concern and the pixel data relating to at least the two pixels adjacent thereto, and for outputting results of the first logic operation obtained for the four combinations; e) second memory means for storing the results of the first logic operation output by the first operation means; and f) second operation means for performing a second logic operation on the results of the first logic operation obtained for the four combinations and stored in the second memory means, and for outputting a result of the second logic operation which forms the rectangular area in which the figure is inscribed, wherein the rectangular area may have pixels other than the pixels of the pre-existing figure. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification