Image processing device performing color conversion and producing scaled image

• US 8,456,708 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2011
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Kuno, Masashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon, King
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lam, Andrew H
• Application Number:
  US13/028,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20110222083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.9, 358/488
• US Class Current: 358/1.9
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3935 with modification of image resolution, i.e. determining the values of picture elements at new relative positions

Abstract

An image processing device converts input image data to converted image data and produces scaled image data based on the converted image data. Each set of converted pixel data in the converted image data includes an achromatic color value and a plurality of chromatic color values. The achromatic color value indicates an amount of an achromatic color material. Each of the plurality of chromatic color values indicates an amount of one of a plurality of chromatic color materials. An achromatic color is produced by mixing at least one of the achromatic color material and the plurality of chromatic color materials. Each set of scaled pixel data in the scaled image data corresponds to at least one set of converted pixel data. The image processing device produces each set of scaled pixel data based on the corresponding at least one set of converted pixel data.

Claims

1. An image processing device comprising:

a color converting unit that is configured to convert input image data to converted image data, the converted image data having a plurality of sets of converted pixel data, each set of converted pixel data including an achromatic color value and a plurality of chromatic color values, the achromatic color value indicating an amount of an achromatic color material, the achromatic color material producing an achromatic color, each of the plurality of chromatic color values indicating an amount of one of a plurality of chromatic color materials, each of chromatic color material producing a chromatic color, the achromatic color being produced by mixing at least one of the achromatic color material and the plurality of chromatic color materials; and

a scaling unit that is configured to produce scaled image data based on the converted image data, the scaled image data including a plurality of sets of scaled pixel data, each set of scaled pixel data corresponding to at least two sets of converted pixel data, the scaling unit producing each set of scaled pixel data based on the corresponding at least two sets of converted pixel data;

wherein, when the input image data includes white pixel data representing a white color, the color converting unit converts the white pixel data to first converted pixel data, wherein each of the plurality of chromatic color values of the first converted pixel data indicates that an amount of the corresponding chromatic color material is zero;

wherein, when the input image data includes black pixel data representing a black color, the color converting unit converts the black pixel data to second converted pixel data, wherein each of the plurality of chromatic color values of the second converted pixel data indicates that an amount of the corresponding chromatic color material is zero;

wherein, when the input image data includes intermediate color data representing an intermediate color between white and black, the color converting unit converts the intermediate color data to third converted pixel data, wherein at least one of the plurality of chromatic color values of the third data indicates that an amount of corresponding chromatic color material is greater than zero;

wherein the scaling unit produces first scaled pixel data by combining the first converted pixel data and the second converted pixel data when the at least two sets of converted pixel data are the first converted pixel data and the second converted pixel data, wherein the first scaled pixel data represent the intermediate color and have the chromatic color values each indicating that the amount of corresponding chromatic color material is zero, and;

wherein the scaling unit produces second scaled pixel data by combining two sets of the third converted pixel data when each of the at least two sets of converted pixel data are the third converted pixel data, wherein the second scaled pixel data represent the intermediate color and have at least one chromatic color value indicating that the amount of corresponding chromatic color material is greater than zero.

2. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the achromatic color value in a set of converted pixel data is greater than the chromatic values in the set of converted pixel data when the set of converted pixel data indicates the achromatic color having a density higher than a prescribed density.

3. The image processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a light color converting unit that is configured to convert the scaled image data to light color image data, the light color image data including a plurality of sets of light color pixel data, each set of the light color pixel data having a basic color value and a light color value, the basic color value indicating an amount of a basic color material, the light color value indicating an amount of a light color material, the light color material having a color tone same as a color tone of the basic color material, the light color material having a density lower than a density of the basic color material, at least one color among the achromatic color and the chromatic colors being produced by the basic color material and the light color material.

4. The image processing device according to claim 3, wherein a basic color value in a set of light color pixel data is greater than light color values in the set of light color pixel data when the set of light color pixel data indicates the at least one color having a density higher than a prescribed density.

5. The image processing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a determining unit that is configured to determine, for each set of scaled pixel data, whether or not at least one set of converted pixel data corresponding to the each set of scaled pixel data includes predetermined pixel data, the predetermined pixel data having at least one value among the chromatic values and the achromatic value that are greater than or equal to a prescribed value; and

a halftone unit that is configured to produce output image data based on the scaled image data, the halftone unit including;

a selecting unit that is configured to select, for each set of scaled pixel data, a first halftone method when the determining unit determines that all set of at least two sets of converted pixel data corresponding to the each set of scaled pixel data does not include the predetermined pixel data, and a second halftone method different from the first halftone method when the determining unit determines that at least one set of converted pixel data corresponding to the each set of scaled pixel data includes the predetermined pixel data; and

a pixel data halftone unit that is configured to produce a set of output pixel data for each set of scaled pixel data in accordance with one of the first halftone method and the second halftone method selected by the selecting unit.

6. The image processing device according to claim 5, wherein the output data indicates an output image, the output image including a plurality of pixels, each pixel corresponding to a set of output pixel data, each set of output pixel data indicating whether or not a dot is to be formed in the corresponding pixel, and

wherein the second method is different from the first method such that dots in a first output image is more irregularly formed than a second output image, the first output image being generated by the first halftone method when the selecting unit selects the first halftone method for all sets of scaled pixel data, the second output image being generated by the second halftone method when the selecting unit selects the second halftone method for all sets of scaled pixel data.

7. The image processing device according to claim 6, wherein each set of output pixel data further indicates a size of dot to be formed in the corresponding pixel.

8. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the converted image data indicates a converted image having a first size, the converted image being divided into a plurality of converted grids, each converted grid corresponding to a set of converted pixel data,

wherein the scaled image data indicates a scaled image having a second size same as the first size, the scaled image being divided into a plurality of scaled grids, each scaled grid corresponding to a set of scaled pixel data,

wherein the scaling unit produces the scaled image data by reducing the converted image data by a prescribed number, the scaling unit including:

an acquiring unit that is configured to acquire, for a set of scaled pixel data, at least two sets of converted pixel data each satisfying a following condition that converted pixel data corresponds to the converted grid whose part is superposed on the scaled grid corresponding to the set of scaled pixel data when the scaled image is partially superposed on the converted image such that the scaled image is shifted, from a position at which the scaled image is entirely superposed on the converted image, by a prescribed length shorter than a length of one converted grid; and

a scaled pixel data determining unit that is configured to determine the scaled pixel data by calculating a weighted average of the at least two sets of converted pixel data based on size ratio, each size ratio being defined as a ratio of a size of the part of converted grid that is superposed on the scaled grid corresponding to the scaled pixel data to a size of the scaled grid.

9. An image processing method comprising:

converting input image data to converted image data, the converted image data having a plurality of sets of converted pixel data, each set of converted pixel data including an achromatic color value and a plurality of chromatic color values, the achromatic color value indicating an amount of an achromatic color material, the achromatic color material producing an achromatic color, each of the plurality of chromatic color values indicating an amount of one of a plurality of chromatic color materials, each of chromatic color material producing a chromatic color, the achromatic color being produced by mixing at least one of the achromatic color material and the plurality of chromatic color materials,

wherein white pixel data, that represents a white color and is included in the input image data, is converted to first converted pixel data, wherein each of the plurality of chromatic color values of the first converted pixel data indicates that an amount of the corresponding chromatic color material is zero,

wherein black pixel data, that represents a black color and is included in the image data, is converted to second converted pixel data, wherein each of the plurality of chromatic color values of the second converted pixel data indicates that an amount of the corresponding chromatic color material is zero,

wherein intermediate color data, that represents an intermediate color between white and black and is included in the input image data, is converted to third converted pixel data, wherein at least one of the plurality of chromatic color values of the third data indicates that an amount of corresponding chromatic color material is greater than zero; and

producing scaled image data based on the converted image data, the scaled image data including a plurality of sets of scaled pixel data, each set of scaled pixel data corresponding to at least two sets of converted pixel data, the scaling unit producing each set of scaled pixel data based on the corresponding at least two sets of converted pixel data,

wherein first scaled pixel data is produced by combining the first converted pixel data and the second converted pixel data when the at least two sets of converted pixel data are the first converted pixel data and the second converted pixel data, the first scaled pixel data representing the intermediate color and having the chromatic color values each indicating of the amount of corresponding chromatic color material being zero,

wherein second scaled pixel data is produced by combining two sets of the third converted pixel data, the second scaled pixel data representing the intermediate color and having at least one chromatic color value indicating that the amount of corresponding chromatic color material is greater than zero.

10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a set of program instructions installed on and executed by an image processing device, the program instructions comprising:

converting input image data to converted image data, the converted image data having a plurality of sets of converted pixel data, each set of converted pixel data including an achromatic color value and a plurality of chromatic color values, the achromatic color value indicating an amount of an achromatic color material, the achromatic color material producing an achromatic color, each of the plurality of chromatic color values indicating an amount of one of a plurality of chromatic color materials, each of chromatic color material producing a chromatic color, the achromatic color being produced by mixing at least one of the achromatic color material and the plurality of chromatic color materials,

wherein white pixel data, that represents a white color and is included in the input image data, is converted to first converted pixel data, wherein each of the plurality of chromatic color values of the first converted pixel data indicates that an amount of the corresponding chromatic color material is zero,

wherein black pixel data, that represents a black color and is included in the image data, is converted to second converted pixel data, wherein each of the plurality of chromatic color values of the second converted pixel data indicates that an amount of the corresponding chromatic color material is zero,

wherein intermediate color data, that represents an intermediate color between white and black and is included in the input image data, is converted to third converted pixel data, wherein at least one of the plurality of chromatic color values of the third data indicates that an amount of corresponding chromatic color material is greater than zero; and

producing scaled image data based on the converted image data, the scaled image data including a plurality of sets of scaled pixel data, each set of scaled pixel data corresponding to at least two sets of converted pixel data, the scaling unit producing each set of scaled pixel data based on the corresponding at least two sets of converted pixel data,

wherein first scaled pixel data is produced by combining the first converted pixel data and the second converted pixel data when the at least two sets of converted pixel data are the first converted pixel data and the second converted pixel data, the first scaled pixel data representing the intermediate color and having the chromatic color values each indicating of the amount of corresponding chromatic color material being zero,

wherein second scaled pixel data is produced by combining two sets of the third converted pixel data, the second scaled pixel data representing the intermediate color and having at least one chromatic color value indicating that the amount of corresponding chromatic color material is greater than zero.