Method and system for hybrid error diffusion processing of image information using dynamic screens based on brightness/darkness settings
First Claim
1. A method of reducing a number of levels in a multi-level grey scale pixel value representing a pixel and diffusing an error generated from reducing the number of levels, comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving a multi-level grey scale pixel value representing a pixel having a first resolution;
(b) receiving a brightness/darkness setting value;
(c) generating an effect pointer based on an image type of the received multi-level grey scale pixel and a window of pixels surrounding the multi-level grey scale pixel and the brightness/darkness setting value;
(d) selecting, from a plurality of screens, a screen according to the effect pointer;
(e) generating a screen value from the selected screen dependent upon a position of the received pixel;
(f) generating a screened multi-level grey scale pixel value utilizing the screen value;
(g) reducing the number of levels in the screened multi-level grey scale pixel value;
(h) generating an error value as a result of the reduction process in said step (g); and
(i) diffusing the error value to multi-level grey scale pixel values of adjacent pixels.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A printing system for rendering marks on a recording medium receives a multi-level grey scale pixel value representing a pixel having a first resolution. A screening circuit generates a screened multi-level grey scale pixel value equal to (GL -Vi)+(Si -Th)*Dmpvi *ModEff wherein GL is the maximum grey level value of the pixel, Vi is equal to the multi-level grey scale pixel value of the first resolution, Si is equal to a screen value corresponding to a position of the pixel, the image classification of the pixel and a brightness/darkness setting, The threshold value, Dmpvi is a video dependent dampening factor, and ModEff is a modulation multiplication factor. An interpolator converts the screened multi-level grey scale pixel value to a second resolution, the second resolution being higher than the first resolution, and a binarization circuit binarizes the converted multi-level grey scale pixel value so as to output a binary signal and an error value, the error value having a resolution equal to the first resolution. The error value is diffused to multi-level grey scale pixel values corresponding to pixels adjacent to the pixel having the first resolution, and the binary signal is converted into a mark on the recording medium.
37 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method of reducing a number of levels in a multi-level grey scale pixel value representing a pixel and diffusing an error generated from reducing the number of levels, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a multi-level grey scale pixel value representing a pixel having a first resolution; (b) receiving a brightness/darkness setting value; (c) generating an effect pointer based on an image type of the received multi-level grey scale pixel and a window of pixels surrounding the multi-level grey scale pixel and the brightness/darkness setting value; (d) selecting, from a plurality of screens, a screen according to the effect pointer; (e) generating a screen value from the selected screen dependent upon a position of the received pixel; (f) generating a screened multi-level grey scale pixel value utilizing the screen value; (g) reducing the number of levels in the screened multi-level grey scale pixel value; (h) generating an error value as a result of the reduction process in said step (g); and (i) diffusing the error value to multi-level grey scale pixel values of adjacent pixels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for reducing a number of levels in a multi-level grey scale pixel value representing a pixel and diffusing an error generated from reducing the number of levels, comprising:
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means for generating a brightness/darkness setting value; image segmentation means for generating an effect pointer based on an image type of a multi-level grey scale pixel to be processed and a window of pixels surrounding the multi-level grey scale pixel and the generated brightness/darkness setting value; screen means for selecting, from a plurality of screens, a screen according to the effect pointer and generating a screen value from the selected screen dependent upon a position of the pixel to be processed; modifying means for generating a screened multi-level grey scale pixel value utilizing the screen value; threshold means for reducing the number of levels in the screened multi-level grey scale pixel value; and error means for generating an error value as a result of the reduction process by said threshold means and diffusing the error value to multi-level grey scale pixel values of adjacent pixels. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for reducing a number of levels in a multi-level grey scale pixel value representing a pixel and diffusing an error generated from reducing the number of levels, comprising:
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a brightness/darkness circuit to generate a brightness/darkness setting value; an image segmentation circuit to generate an effect pointer based on an image type of a multi-level grey scale pixel to be processed and a window of pixels surrounding the multi-level grey scale pixel and the generated brightness/darkness setting value; a screen circuit, including a look-up table, to select, from a plurality of screens, a screen according to the effect pointer and generating a screen value from the selected screen dependent upon a position of the pixel to be processed; an adder to generate a screened multi-level grey scale pixel value with the screen value; a threshold circuit to reduce the number of levels in the screened multi-level grey scale pixel value; and an error diffusion circuit to generate an error value as a result of the reduction process and diffuse the error value to multi-level grey scale pixel values of adjacent pixels. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of screening a multi-level grey scale pixel value representing a pixel, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a multi-level grey scale pixel value representing a pixel; (b) receiving a brightness/darkness setting value; (c) generating an effect pointer based on an image type of the received multi-level grey scale pixel and the brightness/darkness setting value; (d) selecting, from a plurality of screens, a screen according to the effect pointer; (e) generating a screen value from the selected screen dependent upon a position of the received pixel; and (f) generating a screened multi-level grey scale pixel value utilizing the screen value. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A system for screening a multi-level grey scale pixel value representing a pixel, comprising:
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means for generating a brightness/darkness setting value; image segmentation means for generating an effect pointer based on an image type of a multi-level grey scale pixel to be processed and the generated brightness/darkness setting value; screen means for selecting, from a plurality of screens, a screen according to the effect pointer, and for generating a screen value from the selected screen dependent upon a position of the pixel to be processed; and modifying means for generating a screened multi-level grey scale pixel value utilizing the screen value. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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41. A system for screening a multi-level grey scale pixel value representing a pixel, comprising:
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a brightness/darkness circuit to generate a brightness/darkness setting value; an image segmentation circuit to generate an effect pointer based on an image type of a multi-level grey scale pixel to be processed and the generated brightness/darkness setting value; a screen circuit, including a look-up table, to select, from a plurality of screens, a screen according to the effect pointer and to generate a screen value from the selected screen dependent upon a position of the pixel to be processed; and an adder to generate a screened multi-level grey scale pixel value based on the screen value. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43)
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Specification