Method, system, and logic using multiplexers to select data for pixels from multiple objects

• US 6,961,134 B1
• Filed: 05/15/2000
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hanna, Stephen Dale
• Primary Examiner(s): HASKINS, TWYLER LAMB
• Application Number:
  US09/571,701
• Time in Patent Office: 1,996 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.1, 358/426.01, 358/426.14, 358/400, 358/1.2, 358/1.13, 358/1.9, 382/233, 382/235, 345/440, 345/559
• US Class Current: 358/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1852 involving combining data of different types

Abstract

Method, system, and program for processing pixel data. A first and second logic units each receive line work data and control data for pixels on a sheet from at least one object. The control data for one pixel indicates whether to use the line work data for the pixel or contone data for the pixel. Multiple objects may provide line work data and control data for a same pixel. The first and second logic units output control data indicating to use contone data or line work data for the pixel. A third logic unit receives the line work and control data outputted from the first and second logic units. The third logic unit then outputs control data indicating to use the contone data or line work data for the pixel.

Claims

1. A method for processing pixel data, comprising:

receiving, with each of a first and second logic units, line work data and control data for pixels on a sheet from at least one object, wherein control data for one pixel indicates whether to use the line work data for the pixel or contone data for the pixel, and wherein multiple objects may provide line work data and control data for a same pixel;

outputting, with the first and second logic units, control data indicating to use contone data or line work data for the pixel;

receiving, with a third logic unit, the line work data and control data outputted from the first and second logic units; and

outputting, with the third logic unit, control data indicating to use the contone data or line work data for the pixel.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, with a fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh logic units, line work data and control data for pixels on a sheet from at least one object;

outputting, with the fourth and fifth logic units, to the first logic unit line work data and control data indicating to use contone data or line work data for the pixel; and

outputting, with the sixth and seventh logic units, to the second logic unit line work data and control data indicating to use contone data or line work data for the pixel, wherein the line work data and control data outputted by the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh logic units is the line work data and control data received by the first and second logic units.

2. A method for processing pixel data, comprising:

receiving, with each of a first and second logic units, line work data and control data for pixels on a sheet from at least one object, wherein control data for one pixel indicates whether to use the line work data for the pixel or contone data for the pixel, and wherein multiple objects may provide line work data and control data for a same pixel;

outputting, with the first and second logic units, control data indicating to use contone data or line work data for the pixel;

receiving, with a third logic unit, the line work data and control data outputted from the first and second logic units; and

outputting, with the third logic unit, control data indicating to use the contone data or line work data for the pixel, wherein the control data outputted by the first, second, and third logic units indicates to use the contone data for the pixel if the control data indicates to use the contone data for the pixel or indicates to use line work data for the pixel if the control data indicates to use the line work data for the pixel.

3. A method for processing pixel data, comprising:

receiving, with each of a first and second logic units, line work data and control data for one pixel from multiple objects, wherein there is a priority associated with each object, wherein control data for one pixel indicates whether to use the line work data for the pixel or contone data for the pixel;

considering, with the first and second logic units, line work data and control data from a higher priority object to output before considering the line work data and control data from any objects providing data for the pixel having a lower priority;

outputting, with the first and second logic units, control data indicating to use contone data or line work data for the pixel;

receiving, with a third logic unit, the line work data and control data outputted from the first and second logic units; and

outputting, with the third logic unit, control data indicating to use the contone data or line work data for the pixel.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the output from the first and second logic units further includes a priority associated with each pixel for which line work data and control data is provided, further comprising:

considering, with the third logic unit, line work data and control data associated with a higher priority to output before considering the line work data and control data for the pixel associated with a lower priority.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first, second, and third logic units output control data indicating to use the contone data for the pixel if the received control data associated with the highest priority indicates to use contone data for the pixel.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the control data is further capable of indicating to consider line work data and control data associated with a lower priority for the pixel, further comprising:

outputting, with the first and second logic units, the line work data and control data indicating to consider data from one lower priority object for the pixel if the received control data indicates to consider line work data and control data associated with a lower priority; and

considering, with the third logic unit, the line work data and control data from one object having lower priority if the control data indicates to consider one lower priority object for the pixel.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

outputting, with the third logic unit, line work data of zero and control data indicating to select the line work data for the pixel if the control data indicates to consider the next lower priority object for the pixel and there are no lower priority objects providing line work data and control data for the pixel.

6. A method for processing pixel data, comprising:

receiving, with each of a first and second logic units, line work data and control data for pixels on a sheet from at least one object, wherein control data for one pixel indicates whether to use the line work data for the pixel or contone data for the pixel and indicates whether to use or not use the line work data and control data for the pixel, and wherein multiple objects may provide line work data and control data for a same pixel;

outputting, with the first and second logic units, line work data and control data for the pixel, wherein the control data indicates to use contone data or line work data for the pixel and indicates to use or not use the line work data and control data for the pixel, depending on whether the control data received by the first and second logic units indicates to use or not use the line work data and control data, further comprising;

receiving, with a third logic unit, the line work data and control data outputted from the first and second logic units;

considering, with the third logic unit, the line work data and control data from one object having lower priority if the control data indicates to ignore the line work data and control data for the object; and

outputting, with the third logic unit, control data indicating to use the contone data or line work data for the pixel.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

outputting, with the third logic unit, line work data of zero and control data indicating to select the contone data for the pixel if the control data indicates to ignore the line work data and control data for the object received from the first or second logic unit and there are no lower priority objects providing line work data and control data for the pixel.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

outputting, with the third logic unit, line work data and control data indicating to use the line work data for the pixel if the control data indicates to use the line work data and if the control data indicates to use the line work data and control data for the object received from the first or second logic unit.

12. A system for processing pixel data, comprising:

first and second logic units capable of performing;

(i) receiving line work data and control data for pixels on a sheet from at least one object, wherein control data for one pixel indicates whether to use the line work data for the pixel or contone data for the pixel, and wherein multiple objects may provide line work data and control data for a same pixel; and

(ii) outputting control data indicating to use contone data or line work data for the pixel;

a third logic unit capable of performing;

(i) receiving the line work data and control data outputted from the first and second logic units; and

(ii) outputting control data indicating to use the contone data or line work data for the pixel.

22. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

fourth and fifth logic units capable of performing;

(i) receiving line work data and control data for pixels on a sheet from at least one object; and

(ii) outputting to the first logic unit line work data and control data indicating to use contone data or line work data for the pixel; and

fifth and sixth logic units capable of performing;

(i) receiving line work data and control data for pixels on a sheet from at least one object; and

(ii) outputting to the second logic unit line work data and control data indicating to use contone data or line work data for the pixel, wherein the line work data and control data outputted by the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh logic units is the line work data and control data received by the first and second logic units.

13. A system for processing pixel data, comprising:

first and second logic units capable of performing;

(i) receiving line work data and control data for pixels on a sheet from at least one object, wherein control data for one pixel indicates whether to use the line work data for the pixel or contone data for the pixel, and wherein multiple objects may provide line work data and control data for a same pixel; and

(ii) outputting control data indicating to use contone data or line work data for the pixel;

a third logic unit capable of performing;

(i) receiving the line work data and control data outputted from the first and second logic units; and

(ii) outputting control data indicating to use the contone data or line work data for the pixel;

wherein the control data outputted by the first, second, and third logic units indicates to use the contone data for the pixel if the control data indicates to use the contone data for the pixel or indicates to use line work data for the pixel if the control data indicates to use the line work data for the pixel.

14. A system for processing pixel data, comprising:

first and second logic units capable of performing;

(i) receiving line work data and control data for one pixel from multiple objects, wherein there is a priority associated with each object, wherein control data for one pixel indicates whether to use the line work data for the pixel or contone data for the pixel;

(ii) considering line work data and control data from a higher priority object to output before considering the line work data and control data from any objects providing data for the pixel having a lower priority; and

(iii) outputting control data indicating to use contone data or line work data for the pixel;

a third logic unit capable of performing;

(i) receiving the line work data and control data outputted from the first and second logic units; and

(ii) outputting control data indicating to use the contone data or line work data for the pixel.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the output from the first and second logic units further includes a priority associated with each pixel for which line work data and control data is provided, wherein the third logic unit is further capable of performing:

considering line work data and control data associated with a higher priority to output before considering the ling work data and control data for the pixel associated with a lower priority.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first, second, and third logic units output controls data indicating to use the contone data for the pixel if the received control data associated with the highest priority indicates to use contone data for the pixel.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the control data is further capable of indicating to consider line work data and control data associated with a lower priority for the pixel, wherein the first and second logic units are further capable of performing:

outputting the line work data and control data indicating to consider data from one lower priority object for the pixel if the received control data indicates to consider line work data and control data associated with a lower priority; and

wherein the third logic unit is further capable of considering the line work data and control data from one object having lower priority if the control data indicates to consider one lower priority object for the pixel.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the third logic unit is further capable of:

outputting line work data of zero and control data indicating to select the line work data for the pixel if the control data indicates to consider the next lower priority object for the pixel and there are no lower priority objects providing line work data and control data for the pixel.

17. A system for processing pixel data, comprising:

first and second logic units capable of performing;

(i) receiving line work data and control data for pixels on a sheet from at least one object, wherein control data for one pixel indicates whether to use the line work data for the pixel or contone data for the pixel and indicates whether to use or not use the line work data and control data for the pixel, and wherein multiple objects may provide line work data and control data for a same pixel; and

(ii) outputting control data indicating to use contone data or line work data for the pixel and indicating to use or not use the line work data and control data for the pixel, depending on whether the control data received by the first and second logic units indicates to use or not use the line work data and control data; and

a third logic unit capable of performing;

(i) receiving the line work data and control data outputted from the first and second logic units;

(ii) considering the line work data and control data from one object having lower priority if the control data indicates to ignore the line work data and control data for the object; and

(iii) outputting control data indicating to use the contone data or line work data for the pixel.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the third logic unit is further capable of performing outputting line work data of zero and control data indicating to select the contone data for the pixel if the control data indicates to ignore the line work data and control data for the object received from the first or second logic unit and there are no lower priority objects providing line work data and control data for the pixel.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the third logic unit is further capable of performing outputting line work data and control data indicating to use the line work data for the pixel if the control data indicates to use the line work data and if the control data indicates to use the line work data and control data for the object received from the first or second logic unit.

23. A system for processing pixel data, comprising:

first and second logic units capable of performing;

(i) receiving line work data and control data for pixels on a sheet from at least one object, wherein control data for one pixel indicates whether to use the line work data for the pixel or contone data for the pixel, and wherein multiple objects may provide line work data and control data for a same pixel; and

(ii) outputting control data indicating to use contone data or line work data for the pixel;

a third logic unit capable of performing;

(i) receiving the line work data and control data outputted from the first and second logic units; and

(ii) outputting control data indicating to use the contone data or line work data for the pixel, wherein the first, second, and third logic units comprise programmable logic implemented in a hardware device.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the first, second, and third logic units are implemented in a computer card.

25. A system for processing pixel data, comprising:

first and second logic units capable of performing;

(i) receiving line work data and control data for pixels on a sheet from at least one object, wherein control data for one pixel indicates whether to use the line work data for the pixel or contone data for the pixel, and wherein multiple objects may provide line work data and control data for a same pixel; and

(ii) outputting control data indicating to use contone data or line work data for the pixel;

a third logic unit capable of performing;

(i) receiving the line work data and control data outputted from the first and second logic units; and

(ii) outputting control data indicating to use the contone data or line work data for the pixel, wherein the first, second, and third logic units comprise at least one computer program executable by a processor.