Image processing apparatus and method which classifies images according to attributes

• US 6,072,941 A
• Filed: 06/09/1997
• Issued: 06/06/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Iwadate, Masahiro, Suzuki, Kazuyoshi, Sakai, Akihiko, Hirayu, Michiko
• Primary Examiner(s): ROGERS, SCOTT A
• Application Number:
  US08/871,630
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 395/109, 395/110, 395/112, 358/462, 358/452, 358/456, 358/465, 358/466, 382/176
• US Class Current: 358/1.9
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/413 Classification of content, e.g. text, photographs or tables
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/414 Extracting the geometrical structure, e.g. layout tree; Block segmentation, e.g. bounding boxes for graphics or text

Abstract

An image processor, in which the attributes of an image are classified, and optimal processing for each attribute is performed, thereby improving the overall quality of the image. When this processing method is applied to a copying machine, a high processing efficiency is realized, and an area designating operation is omitted. The image processor includes a block selection processing unit for classifying images stored in a storage unit according to various attributes and provides area information for each attribute.

Claims

1. A copying apparatus comprising:

means for converting an object image into an image signal;

means for discriminating a character area and a non-character area of the object image based on the image signal;

means for displaying on a display means at least one of the character area and the non-character area graphically as a visible image;

means for performing mutually different image processing on the character area and the non-character area, respectively; and

means for forming an image based on an output of said performing means,

wherein said display means displays copying instruction information of said copying apparatus.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, whereins aid displaying means is arranged on an operation panel of the copying apparatus.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said converting means is a flat bed scanner.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said discriminating means discriminates the character area and the non character area by detecting an edge of the object image.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said mutual different image processing includes a variable magnification processing.

6. A copying apparatus comprising:

means for converting an object image into an image signal;

means for discriminating a character area and a non-character area of the object image based on the image signal;

means for reforming a character of the character area discriminated by said discriminating means;

means for printing an image on a medium based on the character reformed by said reforming means; and

means for displaying the character, reformed by said reforming means, as a visible image on a display screen before said printing means prints the image.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said converting means is a flat bed scanner.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said discriminating means discriminates the character area and the non character area by detecting an edge of the object image.

9. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said reforming means reforms a shape of the character discriminated by said discriminating means.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the shape of the character is a size of the character discriminated by said discriminating means.