Programmable mapping of lower resolution digital data to a higher resolution for output on a lower resolution device

• US 6,678,426 B1
• Filed: 03/24/1998
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Roylance, Eugene A., Jones, Arlin R., Bearss, James G., Bradburn, Wayne E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhavesh M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, KANJIBHAI B
• Application Number:
  US09/047,315
• Time in Patent Office: 2,121 Days
• Field of Search: 382/217, 382/218, 382/254, 382/266, 382/267, 382/298, 382/299, 358/498, 358/501, 358/534, 358/1.1, 358/1.2, 358/1.14, 358/1.16
• US Class Current: 382/299
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1874 with provisions for treating some of the print data differently
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0071 Post-treatment of the composed image, e.g. compression, rotation

Abstract

Lower resolution source data is synthesized to a higher resolution format for subsequent rendering on a lower resolution output device. Synthesis occurs by selecting or generating and using a synthesis template that represents a configuration of a plurality of pixel data in the higher resolution format into which the lower resolution source data is to be synthesized. A working or active pixel is identified from the lower resolution source data, a synthesis template is selected, and then the synthesis template pixel data is substituted for the working pixel for rendering on the output device. The synthesized higher resolution data is rendered in a manner such that dots represented by the synthesized data are formed interstitially relative to scan lines of the given lower raster/resolution capability of the output device. The working pixel is identified in the lower resolution data by recognizing a configuration of a plurality of pixel data adjacent the working pixel. The synthesis template comprises at least a two by two cell matrix for pixel placement in the higher resolution format. The synthesis template pixel placement is formed to provide an apparent merge of the pixel data in the higher resolution format with the adjacent pixel data of the lower resolution format data.

Claims

1. A method of rendering raster image data on an imaging device having a given raster capability, the method comprising:

(a) receiving raster image data defined at a resolution less than or equal to the given raster capability of the imaging device;

(b) converting the raster image data to a resolution format greater than the given raster capability of the imaging device thereby forming increased resolution format image data; and

,

(c) rendering the increased resolution format image data with the imaging device in a manner such that at least one dot represented by the increased resolution format image data is formed interstitially relative to scan lines defined by the given raster capability of the imaging device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein converting the raster image data to a resolution format greater than the given raster capability of the imaging device includes synthesizing the raster image data.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein synthesizing the raster image data includes:

(a) identifying a working pixel from the raster image data for synthesizing to a higher resolution format, the raster image data being defined in a lower resolution format relative to the higher resolution format;

(b) selecting a synthesis template that represents a configuration of a plurality of pixel data in the higher resolution format into which the working pixel is to be synthesized; and

,

(c) substituting the synthesis template pixel data for the working pixel for subsequent processing.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the working pixel is identified in the lower resolution data by recognizing a configuration of a plurality of pixel data adjacent the working pixel.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the synthesis template comprises at least a two by two cell matrix representation for pixel placement in the higher resolution format.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the synthesis template is selected from a plurality of predefined templates, and wherein each of the predefined templates defines a unique pixel configuration in the higher resolution format, the pixel configuration formed to provide an apparent merge of the synthesized image data in the higher resolution format with adjacent pixel data of the working pixel of the lower resolution format data such that a resultant image rendering is visually pleasing and/or perceptually indistinguishable from the higher resolution format.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of substituting the synthesis template pixel data for the working pixel includes making available for rendering purposes or for further synthesizing a subset of the configuration of the plurality of pixel data in the higher resolution format.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of subsequent processing includes, optionally, (i) rendering the synthesis template pixel data on the imaging device according to step (c) of claim 1, or (ii) repeating steps (a) through (c) of claim 3 with previously selected synthesis template pixel data being substituted in place of the lower resolution format data such that a synthesizing of any original lower resolution format data occurs multiple times in a cascading effect prior to final rendering on an output device according to step (c) of claim 1.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the imaging device is a display device such as a printer, facsimile device or display monitor.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one dot represented by the increased resolution format image data is formed interstitially relative to the given raster capability of the imaging device by fully or partially developing (i) a dot represented by the raster image data from which the increased resolution format image data is formed, and/or (ii) selected dots adjacent to the dot represented by the raster image data from which the increased resolution format image data is formed.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein any partially developed dot and/or adjacent dots are insufficiently developed to render visible dots at their respective locations, but in combination are sufficiently developed in overlapping areas to render visible the at least one dot interstitially.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein a signal associated with partially developing any dot is modified or offset pulsed within the respective dot locale.

13. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing steps including:

(a) receiving raster image data defined at a resolution less than or equal to a given raster capability of an imaging device;

(b) converting the raster image data to a resolution format greater than the given raster canability of the imaging device thereby forming increased resolution format image data; and

,

(c) enabling a rendering of the increased resolution format image data with the imaging device in a manner such that at least one dot represented by the increased resolution format image data is formed interstitially relative to scan lines defined by the given raster canability of the imaging device.

14. An imaging device having a given raster capability, comprising:

(a) apparatus for receiving raster image data, the data being defined at a resolution less than or equal to a given raster capability of the imaging device;

(b) apparatus for synthesizing the raster image data to a resolution format greater than the given raster capability of the imaging device thereby forming synthesized raster image data; and

,

(c) apparatus for rendering the synthesized raster image data with the imaging device in a manner such that at least one dot represented by the synthesized raster image data is formed interstitially relative to scan lines defined by the given raster capability of the imaging device.

15. The imaging device of claim 14 wherein the apparatus for synthesizing the raster image data includes:

(a) apparatus for identifying a working pixel from the raster image data for synthesizing to a higher resolution format, the raster image data being defined in a lower resolution format relative to the higher resolution format;

(b) apparatus for selecting a synthesis template that represents a configuration of a plurality of pixel data in the higher resolution format into which the working pixel is to be synthesized; and

,

(c) apparatus for substituting the synthesis template pixel data for the working pixel for subsequent processing.

16. The imaging device of claim 15 wherein the working pixel is identified in the raster image data of the lower resolution format by recognizing a configuration of a plurality of pixel data adjacent the working pixel.

17. The imaging device of claim 15 wherein the synthesis template comprises at least a two by two cell matrix representation for pixel placement in the higher resolution format.

18. The imaging device of claim 14 wherein the imaging device is a display device such as a printer, facsimile device or display monitor.

19. The imaging device of claim 14 wherein the apparatus for rendering includes means for partially developing (i) a dot represented by the raster image data from which the synthesized image data is formed, and/or (ii) selected dots adjacent to the dot represented by the raster image data from which the synthesized image data is formed.

20. The imaging device of claim 19 wherein the means for partially developing enables a visible development of the at least one dot as a result of a combination of overlapping areas of adjacent dots that are either partially or fully developed.

21. A method of imaging, comprising:

(a) detecting first data defined at a first resolution that is less than or equal to a given raster scan line definition of an imaging device upon which imaging is to occur;

(b) responsive to the first data, generating second data having a second resolution that is greater than the given raster scan line definition; and

,

(c) causing the second data to be imaged with the imaging device such that at least some of the second data is imaged offset from the given raster scan line definition.

22. An imaging device, comprising:

(a) a print engine having a given raster scan line definition; and

,

(b) a controller in communication with the print engine, the controller configured to;

(i) receive first data defined at a first resolution that is less than or equal to the given raster scan line definition;

(ii) responsive to the first data, generate second data having a second resolution that is greater than the given raster scan line definition; and

,

(iii) cause the second data to be imaged with the print engine such that at least some of the second data is imaged offset from the given raster scan line definition.