Image processing apparatus applicable to different copying types of color copying machines

• US 7,116,442 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2001
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Toriyama, Hideyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MADELEINE ANH VINH
• Application Number:
  US09/813,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20010024290A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,021 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.9, 358/527, 358/1.13, 358/1.18, 358/1.4, 358/2.1, 358/1.16, 358/1.15, 358/540, 358/538, 358/453, 358/450, 358/534, 358/532, 382/162, 382/167
• US Class Current: 358/1.9
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/56 Processing of colour picture signals H04N1/52 takes precedence

Abstract

To reduce the number of memories, an image processing apparatus includes a color correcting unit for sequentially processing input pixel data, a memory device provided at a preceding stage of the color correcting unit and for storing the pixel data, a region discriminating unit for discriminating a characteristic of an image region including a plurality of pixel data, and an MTF correcting unit 23 for processing, based on the determined characteristic, the pixel data processed at the color correcting unit. The number of memories can be reduced by providing the memory device at a preceding stage of the color correcting unit, compared to when it is provided at a subsequent stage.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

a first processing means for sequentially processing pixel data in response to input of the pixel data;

a second processing means for determining a characteristic of an image region including a plurality of said pixel data;

a third processing means for processing pixel data processed at said first processing means, based on the characteristic determined by said second processing means;

a connecting means for connecting a memory device; and

a switch device for switching a circuit such that said connecting means is arranged either at a preceding stage of said first processing means or between said first processing means and said third processing means.

2. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

a first processing means for converting, in response to input of pixel data including a set of a plurality of color data, said plurality of color data into a plurality of image color data in a first state, and said plurality of color data into one image color data of said plurality of image color data in a second state;

a second processing means for determining a characteristic of an image region including a plurality of said pixel data;

a third processing means for processing, based on a characteristic amount determined by said second processing means, said plurality of image color data converted at said first processing means in said first state, and the one image color data converted at said first processing means in said second state;

a connecting means for connecting a memory device; and

a switch device for arranging a plurality of said connecting means, corresponding to said plurality of color data, at a preceding stage of said first processing means in said first state, and for arranging said connecting means, corresponding to said one image color data, between said first processing means and said third processing means in said second state.

3. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

a memory device to store input image data;

a first processing unit to sequentially convert and output the image data stored in said memory device;

a second processing unit to receive the same image data as image data input into said memory device and to output data processed based on the received image data; and

a third processing unit to receive the image data output from said first processing unit and the data output from said second processing unit, and to process the image data output from said first processing unit based on the data output from said second processing unit, wherein same image data is input into said memory device and said second processing unit in parallel.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said second processing unit determines an attribute of an image region based on image data of a pixel to be processed and pixels on the periphery of said pixel to be processed, and outputs data indicating the attribute.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first processing unit converts the input image data into image data of a different color system to output the converted image data.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said third processing unit processes the image data output from said first processing unit to correct sharpness of an image.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said third processing unit substantially simultaneously receives the image data from said first processing unit and data corresponding to said image data from said second processing unit.

8. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

a memory device to store input image data;

a first processing unit to sequentially convert and output the image data stored in said memory device;

a second processing unit to receive the same image data as image data input into said memory device and to output data processed based on the received image data; and

a third processing unit to receive the image data output from said first processing unit and the data output from said second processing unit, and to process the image data output from said first processing unit based on the data output from said second processing unit, wherein

said second processing unit determines an attribute of an image region based on image data of a pixel to be processed and pixels on the periphery of said pixel to be processed, and outputs data indicating the attribute, and

said second processing unit determines if the image region is represented by a character.

9. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

a memory device to store input image data;

a first processing unit to sequentially convert and output the image data stored in said memory device;

a second processing unit to receive the same image data as image data input into said memory device and to output data processed based on the received image data; and

a third processing unit to receive the image data output from said first processing unit and the data output from said second processing unit, and to process the image data output from said first processing unit based on the data output from said second processing unit, wherein

said second processing unit determines an attribute of an image region based on image data of a pixel to be processed and pixels on the periphery of said pixel to be processed, and outputs data indicating the attribute, and

said second processing unit determines if the image region is represented by a photograph.

10. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

a memory device to store input image data;

a first processing unit to sequentially convert and output the image data stored in said memory device;

a second processing unit to receive the same image data as image data input into said memory device and to output data processed based on the received image data; and

a third processing unit to receive the image data output from said first processing unit and the data output from said second processing unit, and to process the image data output from said first processing unit based on the data output from said second processing unit, wherein

said second processing unit determines an attribute of an image region based on image data of a pixel to be processed and pixels on the periphery of said pixel to be processed, and outputs data indicating the attribute, and

said second processing unit determines if the image region is represented by a dot.

11. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

a memory device to store image data;

a first processing unit to sequentially convert and output input image data;

a second processing unit to receive a plurality of said image data, and to output data processed based on the input image data;

a third processing unit to process image data output from said memory device and image data processed at said first processing unit, based on the data output from said second processing unit;

a first circuit to input the image data output from said memory device into said first processing unit;

a second circuit to input the image data output from said first processing unit into said memory device and also to input the image data output from said memory device into said second processing unit; and

a switch device to selectively switch said first circuit and said second circuit.

12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

same image data is input into said memory device and said second processing unit in parallel, when said first circuit is selected by said switching device.

13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

same image data is input into said first processing unit and said second processing unit in parallel, when said second circuit is selected by said switching device.

14. The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

said second processing unit determines an attribute of an image region based on image data of a pixel to be processed and pixels on the periphery of said pixel to be processed, and outputs data indicating the attribute.

15. The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

said first processing unit converts the input image data into image data of a different color system to output the converted image data.

16. The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

said third processing unit processes the image data output from said first processing unit to correct sharpness of an image.

17. The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

said third processing unit substantially simultaneously receives the image data from said first processing unit and data corresponding to said image data from said second processing unit.

18. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

a memory device to store image data;

a first processing unit to convert, in response to input of image data including a set of a plurality of color data, said plurality of color data into a plurality of image color data in a first state, and said plurality of color data into one image color data of said plurality of image color data in a second state;

a second processing unit to receive a plurality of said image data, and to output data processed based on the input image data;

a third processing unit to process, based on data output from said second processing unit, a plurality of image color data converted at said first processing unit in said first state, and the one image color data converted at said first processing unit in said second state;

a first circuit to input image data including a set of a plurality of color data output from said memory device into said first processing unit;

a second circuit to input one image color data output from said first processing unit into said memory device, and also inputting one image color data output from said memory device into said second processing unit; and

a switch device to selectively switch said first circuit and said second circuit to select said first circuit in said first state and to select said second circuit in said second state.

19. The image processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein

same image data is input into said memory device and said second processing unit in parallel, when said first circuit is selected by said switching device.

20. The image processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein

same image data is input into said first processing unit and said second processing unit in parallel, when said second circuit is selected by said switch device.

21. The image processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein

said second processing unit determines an attribute of an image region based on image data of a pixel to be processed and pixels on the periphery of said pixel to be processed, and outputs data indicating the attribute.

22. The image processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein

said first processing unit converts the input image data into image data of a different color system to output the converted image data.

23. The image processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein

said third processing unit processes the image data output from said first processing unit to correct sharpness of an image.

24. The image processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein

said third processing unit substantially simultaneously receives the image data from said first processing unit and data corresponding to said image data from said second processing unit.

25. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a memory device to store input image data;

a first processing unit to sequentially convert and output the image data stored in said memory device;

a second processing unit to receive same image data as the image data input to said memory device, and to output data processed based on the input image data;

a third processing unit to receive the image data output from said first processing unit and the data output from said second processing unit, and to process the image data output from said first processing unit based on the data output from said second processing unit; and

an image forming unit to form an image on a sheet based on image data output from said third processing unit, wherein same image data is input into said memory device and said second processing unit in parallel.

26. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a memory device to store image data;

a first processing unit to sequentially convert and output input image data;

a second processing unit to receive a plurality of said image data, and to output data processed based on the input image data;

a third processing unit to process image data output from said memory device and image data processed at said first processing unit, based on the data output from said second processing unit;

a first circuit to input image data output from said memory device into said first processing unit;

a second circuit to input the image data output from said first processing unit and also to input the image data output from said memory device into said second processing unit;

a switch device to selectively switch said first circuit and said second circuit; and

an image forming unit to form an image on a sheet based on the image data output from said third processing unit.