Image forming apparatus and image forming method

• US 7,315,399 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2004
• Issued: 01/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawakami, Haruko, Hamamura, Naoko
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Kimberly
• Assistant Examiner(s): BURLESON, MICHAEL L
• Application Number:
  US10/946,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20050036156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.9, 358/537, 358/538, 358/451, 358/448
• US Class Current: 358/1.9
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/393 Enlarging or reducing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/40062 Discrimination between different image types, e.g. two-tone, continuous tone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6072 adapting to different types of images, e.g. characters, graphs, black and white image portions

Abstract

An input section performs a color conversion process, etc. for image data from a color scanner section. A discrimination section generates a discrimination signal representative of “character”, “non-character”, etc. on the basis of an image signal from the input section. A first processing section performs a filtering process, etc. for the image signal from the input section, and switches the method of such a process on the basis of the discrimination signal from the discrimination section. An enlargement/reduction section enlarges or reduces the discrimination signal from the discrimination section and the image signal from the first processing section. A second processing section subjects the enlarged/reduced image signal form the enlargement/reduction section to a black-added printing process, a gamma conversion process, etc., and switches the method of such a process on the basis of the enlarged/reduced discrimination signal from the enlargement/reduction section.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus for subjecting an input image signal to an enlargement/reduction process on the basis of a predetermined enlargement/reduction magnification, the apparatus comprising:

first discrimination means for generating a first discrimination signal by determining an attribute of each of at least one area obtained by dividing an input image on the basis of the input image signal;

second discrimination means for generating a second discrimination signal by determining an attribute of each of pixels on the basis of the input image signal and the first discrimination signal from the first discrimination means;

image enlargement/reduction means for subjecting the input image signal to the enlargement/reduction process on the basis of the enlargement/reduction magnification;

discrimination enlargement/reduction means for generating an enlarged/reduced discrimination signal by subjecting the second discrimination signal from the second discrimination means to the enlargement/reduction process on the basis of the enlargement/reduction magnification; and

image processing means for performing an image process for the enlarged/reduced image signal from the image enlargement/reduction means on the basis of the enlarged/reduced discrimination signal,

wherein said discrimination enlargement/reduction means comprises;

pixel division means for dividing pixel information associated with the second discrimination signal from the second discrimination means, which pixel information belongs to an object pixel range, on the basis of the enlargement/reduction magnification, and retaining the divided pixel information;

a plurality of arithmetic operation means for subjecting the pixel information belonging to the object pixel range, which has been divided by the pixel division means, to predetermined arithmetic operations, thereby outputting enlarged/reduced attribute discrimination signals associated with the pixels; and

selection means for selecting one of the output signals from the plural arithmetic operation means on the basis of an externally provided switching condition and the first discrimination signal from the first discrimination means.

2. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the externally provided switching condition, which is input to the selection means, is one of an enlargement/reduction magnification, a kind of an original, and an image process adjustment value, which are selected by external input operations.

3. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein where the second discrimination signal generated by the second discrimination means is a two-value signal, each of the plural arithmetic operation means of the discrimination enlargement/reduction means performs an arithmetic operation of one of a logical sum of pixel information in an object range divided by the pixel division means, a logical product of the pixel information in the object range divided by the pixel division means, a pixel value at a fixed position such as a first pixel or a last pixel in the object range, and a weighted sum corresponding to the magnification.

4. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein where the second discrimination signal generated by the second discrimination means is a multi-value signal, each of the plural arithmetic operation means of the discrimination enlargement/reduction means performs an arithmetic operation of one of a pixel value at a fixed position, such as a first pixel or a last pixel, of pixel information in an object range divided by the pixel division means, a maximum or minimum value of the pixel information in the object range, and a weighted sum corresponding to the magnification.

5. An image processing apparatus that subjects an input image signal to an enlargement/reduction process on the basis of a predetermined enlargement/reduction magnification, the apparatus comprising:

a first discrimination unit configured to generate a first discrimination signal by determining an attribute of each of at least one area obtained by dividing an input image on the basis of the input image signal;

a second discrimination unit configured to generate a second discrimination signal by determining an attribute of each of pixels on the basis of the input image signal and the first discrimination signal from the first discrimination unit;

an image enlargement/reduction unit configured to subject the input image signal to the enlargement/reduction process on the basis of the enlargement/reduction magnification;

a discrimination enlargement/reduction unit configured to generate an enlarged/reduced discrimination signal by subjecting the second discrimination signal from the second discrimination unit to the enlargement/reduction process on the basis of the enlargement/reduction magnification; and

an image processing unit configured to perform an image process on the enlarged/reduced image signal from the image enlargement/reduction unit on the basis of the enlarged/reduced discrimination signal,

wherein said discrimination enlargement/reduction unit comprises;

pixel division unit configured to divide pixel information associated with the second discrimination signal from the second discrimination unit, which pixel information belongs to an object pixel range, on the basis of the enlargement/reduction magnification, and retain the divided pixel information;

a plurality of arithmetic operation units configured to subject the pixel information belonging to the object pixel range, which has been divided by the pixel division unit, to predetermined arithmetic operations, and thereby output enlarged/reduced attribute discrimination signals associated with the pixels; and

a selection unit configured to select one of the output signals from the plural arithmetic operation units on the basis of an externally provided switching condition and the first discrimination signal from the first discrimination unit.

6. An image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the externally provided switching condition, which is input to the selection unit, is one of an enlargement/reduction magnification, a kind of an original, and an image process adjustment value, which are selected by external input operations.

7. An image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein where the second discrimination signal generated by the second discrimination unit is a two-value signal, each of the plural arithmetic operation units of the discrimination enlargement/reduction unit performs an arithmetic operation of one of a logical sum of pixel information in an object range divided by the pixel division unit, a logical product of the pixel information in the object range divided by the pixel division unit, a pixel value at a fixed position such as a first pixel or a last pixel in the object range, and a weighted sum corresponding to the magnification.

8. An image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein where the second discrimination signal generated by the second discrimination unit is a multi-value signal, each of the plural arithmetic operation units of the discrimination enlargement/reduction unit performs an arithmetic operation of one of a pixel value at a fixed position, such as a first pixel or a last pixel, of pixel information in an object range divided by the pixel division unit, a maximum or minimum value of the pixel information in the object range, and a weighted sum corresponding to the magnification.

9. An image processing method that subjects an input image signal to an enlargement/reduction process on the basis of a predetermined enlargement/reduction magnification, the method comprising:

generating a first discrimination signal by determining an attribute of each of at least one area obtained by dividing an input image on the basis of the input image signal;

generating a second discrimination signal by determining an attribute of each of pixels on the basis of the input image signal and the first discrimination signal;

subjecting the input image signal to the enlargement/reduction process on the basis of the enlargement/reduction magnification;

generating an enlarged/reduced discrimination signal by subjecting the second discrimination signal to the enlargement/reduction process on the basis of the enlargement/reduction magnification;

performing an image process for the enlarged/reduced image signal on the basis of the enlarged/reduced discrimination signal;

dividing pixel information associated with the second discrimination signal, which pixel information belongs to an object pixel range, on the basis of the enlargement/reduction magnification, and retaining the divided pixel information;

subjecting the pixel information belonging to the object pixel range, to predetermined arithmetic operations, thereby outputting enlarged/reduced attribute discrimination signals associated with the pixels; and

selecting one of the output signals on the basis of an externally provided switching condition and the first discrimination signal.

10. An image processing method according to claim 9, wherein the externally provided switching condition, is one of an enlargement/reduction magnification, a kind of an original, and an image process adjustment value, which are selected by external input operations.

11. An image processing method according to claim 9, further comprising performing an arithmetic operation of one of a logical sum of pixel information in an object range, a logical product of the pixel information in the object range, a pixel value at a fixed position such as a first pixel or a last pixel in the object range, and a weighted sum corresponding to the magnification, wherein the second discrimination signal is a two-value signal.

12. An image processing method according to claim 9, further comprising performing an arithmetic operation of one of a pixel value at a fixed position, such as a first pixel or a last pixel, of pixel information in an object range, a maximum or minimum value of the pixel information in the object range, and a weighted sum corresponding to the magnification, wherein the second discrimination signal is a multi-value signal.