System and method for implementing fast high addressability error diffusion process
First Claim
1. A method of diffusing an error generated from thresholding a grey level value representing a pixel, comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving grey level values representing pixels, each pixel having a single grey level value associated therewith;
(b) converting the grey level value of a pixel to a predetermined number of interpolated subpixel values;
(c) thresholding each of the interpolated subpixel values;
(d) generating a plurality of possible error values in parallel with the conversion and thresholding carried out by said steps (b) and (c);
(e) selecting one of the plurality of possible error values based on a number of interpolated subpixels values exceeding a threshold value determined in said step (c); and
(f) diffusing the selected error value to grey level values representing adjacent pixels.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system implements a high addressability characteristic into an error diffusion process. A grey level value representing a pixel is received. The grey level value is interpolated to generate subpixel grey level values which correspond to a second resolution. A threshold circuit thresholds the interpolated grey level value. In parallel to the interpolation circuit and threshold circuit is an error circuit which generates a plurality of possible error values. One of the plurality of possible error values is selected based on the number of subpixels exceeding a threshold value. A portion of the selected error value is then diffused to adjacent pixels on a next scanline.
26 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method of diffusing an error generated from thresholding a grey level value representing a pixel, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) receiving grey level values representing pixels, each pixel having a single grey level value associated therewith; (b) converting the grey level value of a pixel to a predetermined number of interpolated subpixel values; (c) thresholding each of the interpolated subpixel values; (d) generating a plurality of possible error values in parallel with the conversion and thresholding carried out by said steps (b) and (c); (e) selecting one of the plurality of possible error values based on a number of interpolated subpixels values exceeding a threshold value determined in said step (c); and (f) diffusing the selected error value to grey level values representing adjacent pixels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A system for diffusing an error generated from thresholding a grey level value representing a pixel, comprising:
-
input means for receiving grey level values representing pixels, each pixel having a single grey level value associated therewith; high addressability means for converting the grey level value of a pixel to a predetermined number of interpolated subpixel values; threshold means for thresholding each of the interpolated subpixel values and for determining a number of interpolated subpixels values which exceed a threshold value; error means, operatively connected in parallel with said high addressability means and said threshold means, for generating a plurality of possible error values; selecting means, operatively connected to said error means and said threshold means, for selecting one of the plurality of possible error values based on the number of interpolated subpixels values exceeding a threshold value determined by said threshold means; and error diffusing means for diffusing the selected error value to grey level values representing adjacent pixels. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of generating an error from a threshold process, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) thresholding a plurality of interpolated subpixel values associated with a pixel; (b) generating a plurality of possible error values in parallel with the thresholding carried out by said step (a); and (c) selecting one of the plurality of possible error values based on a number of interpolated subpixels values exceeding a threshold value determined in said step (a). - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
-
-
14. A system for generating an error from a threshold process, comprising:
-
threshold means for thresholding a plurality of interpolated subpixel values associated with a pixel and for determining a number of interpolated subpixels values which exceed a threshold value; error means, operatively connected in parallel with said threshold means, for generating a plurality of possible error values; and selecting means, operatively connected to said error means and said threshold means, for selecting one of the plurality of possible error values based on the number of interpolated subpixels values exceeding the threshold value determined by said threshold means. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
-
-
17. A printing system for rendering marks on a recording medium, comprising:
-
receiving means for receiving a grey level signal corresponding to a pixel; interpolation means for converting the grey level value of a pixel to a predetermined number of interpolated subpixel values; binarization means for binarizing the converted grey level signal so as to output a binary signal and for determining a number of interpolated subpixel values which exceed a threshold value; error means, operatively connected in parallel with said interpolation means and said binarization means, for generating a plurality of possible error values; and selecting means, operatively connected to said error means and said binarization means, for selecting one of the plurality of possible error values based on the number of interpolated subpixel values exceeding a threshold value determined by said binarization means; diffusing means for diffusing the selected error value to grey level signals corresponding to pixels adjacent to the pixel being binarized; and rendering means for converting the binary signal into a mark on the recording medium.
-
Specification