Image processing device producing reduced image

• US 8,599,430 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2011
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Kuno, Masashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon, King
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lam, Andrew H
• Application Number:
  US13/028,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20110222076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.2, 358/1.9, 359/488
• US Class Current: 358/1.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/40 Scaling of whole images or parts thereof, e.g. expanding or contracting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/40068 Modification of image resolution, i.e. determining the values of picture elements at new relative positions H04N1/3935 takes precedence

Abstract

An image processing device creates reduced image data based on original image data indicative of an original image. The original image is divided into original grids each corresponding to a set of original pixel data. The reduced image is divided into reduced grids each corresponding to a set of reduced pixel data. The image processing device acquires, for each set of reduced pixel data, original pixel data corresponding to the original grid whose part is superposed on the reduced grid corresponding to the each set of reduced pixel data when the reduced image is partially superposed on the original image such that the reduced image is shifted. The reduced pixel data is produced by calculating a weighted average of the original pixel data based on size ratio of the part of original grid superposed on the reduced grid to a size of the reduced grid.

Claims

1. An image processing device comprising:

an original image data acquiring unit that is configured to acquire original image data indicative of an original image, the original image extending in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the original image data including a plurality of sets of original pixel data, the original image having a first resolution, the original image having a first size, the original image being divided into a plurality of original grids, each original grid corresponding to a set of original pixel data;

a reducing unit that is configured to create reduced image data by performing a reduction process on the original image data, the reduced image data including a plurality of sets of reduced pixel data, the reduced image data being indicative of a reduced image, the reduced image extending in the first direction and the second direction, the reduced image having a second resolution lower than the first resolution, the reduced image having a second size same as the first size, the reduced image being divided into a plurality of reduced grids, each reduced grid corresponding to a set of reduced pixel data, the reducing unit including;

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

a reduced pixel data producing unit that is configured to produce the reduced pixel data by calculating a weighted average of the at least one set of original pixel data acquired by the acquiring unit based on size ratio, each size ratio being defined as a ratio of a size of the part of original grid that is superposed on the reduced grid corresponding to the reduced pixel data to a size of the reduced grid; and

a transmitting unit that is configured to transmit the reduced image data to an image forming unit, the image forming unit configured to form the reduced image on a recording medium based on the reduced image data by ejecting ink droplets while reciprocating a recording head in a main scanning direction, the recording head moving relative to the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, the main scanning direction corresponding to the first direction, the sub-scanning direction corresponding to the second direction.

2. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the first resolution is an integer multiple of the second resolution.

3. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the acquiring unit acquires at least one set of original pixel data for a set of reduced pixel data, the at least one set of original pixel data corresponding to the original grid whose part is superposed on the reduced grid corresponding to the set of reduced pixel data when the reduced image is partially superposed on the original image such that the reduced image is shifted from the original position in both the first direction and the second direction.

4. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sets of original pixel data are divided into a plurality of sets of line data having a first line data, the plurality of sets of line data indicating a plurality of lines that are arranged in the second direction, each set of line data including first original pixel data and last original pixel data, the first original pixel data indicating a first original pixel, the last original pixel data indicating a last original pixel, the first original pixel and the second original pixel being arranged in the first direction, the first original pixel and the last original pixel corresponding to a first original grid an a last original grid,

wherein the reducing unit produces the reduced image data by sequentially performing the reduction process on the original pixel data from the first original pixel data to the last original pixel data, and

wherein the second direction is directed from the last original grid to the first original grid.

5. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the second resolution indicates a resolution of the reduced image in the second direction, the first resolution indicating a resolution of the original image in the second direction.

6. An image processing device comprising:

an original image data acquiring unit that is configured to acquire original image data indicative of an original image, the original image data including a plurality of sets of original pixel data, the original image having a first resolution, the original image having a first size, the original image being divided into a plurality of original grids, each original grid corresponding to a set of original pixel data;

a reducing unit that is configured to create reduced image data by performing a reduction process on the original image data, the reduced image data including a plurality of sets of reduced pixel data, the reduced image data being indicative of a reduced image, the reduced image having a second resolution lower than the first resolution, the reduced image having a second size same as the first size, the reduced image being divided into a plurality of reduced grids, each reduced grid corresponding to a set of reduced pixel data, the reducing unit including;

an acquiring unit that is configured to acquire, for each set of reduced pixel data, at least one set of original pixel data satisfying a following condition that the at least one set of original pixel data corresponds to the original grid whose part is superposed on the reduced grid corresponding to the each set of reduced pixel data when the reduced image is partially superposed on the original image such that the reduced image is shifted, from an original position at which the reduced image is entirely superposed on the original image, by a prescribed length shorter than a length of one original grid, the reduced image having a non-superposed region that is not superposed on the original image;

a supplement grid allocating unit that is configured to allocate at least one supplement grid to the non-superposed region, each supplement grid having a size same as the first size, original pixel data of each supplement grid being set to zero; and

a reduced pixel data producing unit that is configured to produce, for each reduced pixel, the reduced pixel data by calculating one of;

a weighted average of the at least one set of original pixel data acquired by the acquiring unit based on size ratio if the reduced pixel excludes the supplement grid, each size ratio being defined as a ratio of a size of the part of original grid that is superposed on the reduced grid corresponding to the reduced pixel data to a size of the reduced grid; and

a weighted average of at least one set of the corresponding original pixel data acquired by the acquiring unit and the corresponding original pixel data allocated by the supplement grid allocating unit based on size ratio if the reduced pixel includes the supplement grid, each size ratio being defined as a ratio of a size of the part of one of original grid and the supplement grid that is superposed on the reduced grid corresponding to the reduced pixel data to a size of the reduced grid; and

a transmitting unit that is configured to transmit the reduced image data to an image forming unit.

7. An image processing device comprising:

an original image data acquiring unit that is configured to acquire original image data indicative of an original image, the original image data including a plurality of sets of original pixel data, the original image having a first resolution, the original image having a first size, the original image being divided into a plurality of original grids, each original grid corresponding to a set of original pixel data;

a reducing unit that is configured to create reduced image data by performing a reduction process on the original image data, the reduced image data including a plurality of sets of reduced pixel data, the reduced image data being indicative of a reduced image, the reduced image having a second resolution lower than the first resolution, the reduced image having a second size same as the first size, the reduced image being divided into a plurality of reduced grids, each reduced grid corresponding to a set of reduced pixel data, the reducing unit including;

an acquiring unit that is configured to acquire, for each set of reduced pixel data, at least one set of original pixel data satisfying a following condition that the at least one set of original pixel data corresponds to the original grid whose part is superposed on the reduced grid corresponding to the each set of reduced pixel data when the reduced image is partially superposed on the original image such that the reduced image is shifted, from an original position at which the reduced image is entirely superposed on the original image, by a prescribed length shorter than a length of one original grid, the reduced image having a non-superposed region that is not superposed on the original image;

a supplement grid allocating unit that is configured to allocate at least one supplement grid to the non-superposed region, each supplement grid having a size same as the first size, original pixel data of each supplement grid being set to the original pixel data of an original grid that is adjacent to the each supplement grid; and

a reduced pixel data producing unit that is configured to produce, for each reduced pixel, the reduced pixel data by calculating one of;

a weighted average of the at least one set of original pixel data acquired by the acquiring unit based on size ratio if the reduced pixel excludes the supplement grid, each size ratio being defined as a ratio of a size of the part of original grid that is superposed on the reduced grid corresponding to the reduced pixel data to a size of the reduced grid; and

a weighted average of at least one set of the corresponding original pixel data acquired by the acquiring unit and the corresponding original pixel data allocated by the supplement grid allocating unit based on size ratio if the reduced pixel includes the supplement grid, each size ratio being defined as a ratio of a size of the part of one of original grid and the supplement grid that is superposed on the reduced grid corresponding to the reduced pixel data to a size of the reduced grid; and

a transmitting unit that is configured to transmit the reduced image data to an image forming unit.