Abstract: A method and system for determining an optimal line density for further processing of an imaged document, in which contiguously located pixels of a predetermined color in an image document are counted and based thereon image fineness/coarseness and an optimal line density representing the document is determined. The imaged document is then converted to the optimal line density and provided for further processing, such as for transmission via facsimile.

Abstract: A host computer includes a processor, a first memory for storing a bit map representation of an image to be printed, and a second memory for storing a control language representation of an image to be printed. The host computer further includes a printer driver for enabling dispatch of the bit map representation to a connected printer. The printer includes a print engine, a printer processor and control memory for storing bit map control code which controls the printer processor to render the print engine able to print an image defined by a bit map representation. The control memory further includes control language code for controlling the printer's processor to render the print engine able to print an image defined by a control language representation. Within the host computer is an interface module, controlled by the host printer driver, for interrogating status information from the printer.

Abstract: A sound signal output circuit and method which controls the volume every time a new signal source is selected which has a different modulation degree, than the previous signal source and which prevents sound distortion caused by an over-modulated sound signal input. The circuit detects the peak value of the selected sound signal source, stores the detected peak value, compares the stored peak level with the detected peak level, and thereby selects the greater peak level. Next, the circuit applies the selected peak level to a gain control amplifier as a gain control value, so that when the sound signal source having a different modulation degree is selected, the volume can be automatically controlled.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of lossy decoding of bitstream data. The method comprises the steps of decoding the bitstream data having a plurality of symbols to provide an image stream having a plurality of image blocks, marking an image block with a first identifier having a spatial position associated with a location when an invalid symbol is encountered, discarding the bitstream data until a resynchronization code is decoded, marking the image block associated with the resynchronization code with a second identifier, decoding the image stream to provide a plurality of display frames having a plurality of display blocks, comparing the display blocks of a display frame for similarity between the display blocks of a previous display frame to determine display blocks having errors, and replacing the display blocks having errors with previous display blocks corresponding to a similar spatial position.

Abstract: A transparency to be printed is scanned to generate density values which are used to determine the degree of exposure of the transparency. The transparency is further scanned to generate signals representing an image of the transparency. The scanner which is employed for the latter scanning procedure and produces the signals has a linear scanning range and, based on the degree of exposure of the transparency, the illumination intensity or integration time of this scanner is controlled such that the master is scanned within the linear range. The signals generated by the scanner are corrected using a characteristic line selected in dependence upon the degree of exposure of the transparency, the color temperature and/or the film type. The corrected signals are processed to additionally enhance the image of the transparency and are then used to print the image.

Abstract: A picture processing method for correcting distorted pictures is provided. A plurality of starting points are displayed on the boundary of the picture to be corrected. An operator enters motion vectors, each corresponding to a starting point. The motion vector for any starting point for which no motion vector was entered is calculated. The picture is converted according to the motion vectors. This conversion corresponds to procedures to move points in the picture in the directions indicated by motion vectors. The closer a given motion vector is to a point, the more it affects the direction and distance of the motion of this point. A converted picture is displayed. As required, processing steps are executed again, and motion vectors are designated again. The desired picture is obtained by repeating the setting of motion vectors and the evaluation of the converted picture.

Abstract: A run length which is the length of a run representing continuous black pixels is calculated on the basis of binary image data, and an extending process is performed for the run using a target pixel as an object to generate an extended run. An extended run length representing the length of the extended run and a maximum run length representing the length of the longest run in the range of the extended run are calculated. If a difference between the extended run length and the maximum run length is smaller than a predetermined value, an image near the target pixel is determined as a character image. If the difference is equal to or larger than the predetermined value, the image is determined as a half-tone image. In this manner, accuracy in separation between the half-tone area and the character area in a document image can be improved.

Abstract: A method for combining foreground objects defined by a mask value and shade value, with a background image defined by a shade value, using high resolution edge information derived from low resolution grey image representations. By treating the object edge pixels in a high resolution grey model, characteristics of an edge represented by an edge pixel can be approximated by reference to surrounding grey elements. Movement of the edge can be approximated by changing the mask values in the high resolution grey model. Changes in the overall grey level of the pixel resulting from the mask changes cause the impression of edge movement in the low resolution edge.

Abstract: An imaging and recording apparatus for electrically recording an optical image of a subject as an image information signal which facilitates memory access from an external device and prevents image information from being changed. Upon manipulation of a recording trigger switch, an image outputted from a camera signal processing circuit at that time is written into a semiconductor memory, then subjected to data compression in a data compression circuit, and stored in a semiconductor memory. It is now assumed that an external device not illustrated is connected to a connector and this external device orders taking in the image of the semiconductor memory. If at this time the semiconductor memory is writing an image, a state detection circuit detects the fact and inhibits the external device from taking in the image. Furthermore, while the external device is taking in the image of the semiconductor memory, the state detection circuit detects this fact.

Abstract: An improved printing system is provided having at least one host computer and a printer in which the printer acquires print job accounting information and communicates it to the host computer via NPAP messages. A host computer downloads print job data to the printer through a communications port on the printer (i.e., either a parallel port, serial port, or network port), and as the printer prints the print job that it received from the host computer, the printer temporarily stores job accounting information. At the end of the print job, the printer communicates that job accounting information back to armed host computers via a bi-directional communications port, including typical information such as: the job identifier number, job processing time, number of sheets of paper from each paper source, number of impressions from each paper source (either one-sided or two-sided impressions), the port identifier, the network user name, the name of the print job (as specified), and the printer's serial number.

Abstract: A detector array method and apparatus for real time in-situ color control in printers and copiers includes an array for performing a linear matrix transformation on color patch information generated by a printer or copier. A light sensor array detects color components from a series of color test patches and performs a predetermined matrix transformation on the color information to produce a set of control signals for feedback to the printer or copier. In another embodiment, the light sensor array is extended to produce a fully analog neural network processor which is capable of arbitrary mappings of the color information into control signals for use by the printer or copier apparatus. The system is fully programmable, adaptive and, in one embodiment, trainable using backpropagation or other techniques.

Abstract: To produce a correction table to be referred to when a quantum level data (QL data) as an input image data to a given image output device is converted into an image having a halftone dot percentage, reference QL data having a plurality of data values arranged at predetermined data intervals are inputted to the image output device; the halftone dot percentage of an output image from the image output device are measured; an approximation formula of a desired function form is determined to approximate the measured halftone dot percentage by the method of least squares, on the condition that the formula should go through preset starting and ending points; and the correction table is produced based on the resulted approximation formula.

Abstract: An image communication system wherein transmission of an image between an image transmission apparatus and an image reception apparatus which include image output sections having different performances can be performed without making an inquiry for the performance prior to transmission is disclosed. An image is inputted by an image input section and sent to a hierarchization section in the image transmission apparatus. The hierarchization section converts the inputted image into and transmits hierarchized data to a selection section of the image reception apparatus. The selection section extracts only necessary ones of the data transmitted thereto in accordance with the performance of an image output section of the image reception section and then sends the necessary data to the image output section after, if necessary, they are converted into image data. The image output section visualize the image data transmitted thereto from the selection section.

Abstract: Bidirectional communications between a host computer and a printer connected to the host, either locally or by way of a network, are used to provide a user of the host with access to a substantially real-time, visual and functional replica of the operator panel of the printer. The user may view the replica to access all data available through the printer operator panel. Using a mouse or other input device, the user of the host computer can also effectively actuate any pushbuttons or other operator panel control devices depicted as part of the replica.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a detecting section for detecting a density value as a threshold value for suppressing an effect from a background from image data composed of plural picture element data obtained by digitizing each picture element of the image and a density converting section for outputting the image data after converting density values of the picture element data whose density values are below the threshold value into a predetermined value indicating white when the density value of the picture element data is below the threshold value. The detecting section computes a degree of separation indicating a ratio of a between-class dispersion to a within-class dispersion of two classes divided by the threshold value by sequentially varying the density value. Then, the density value corresponding to a gravitational center of a differential histogram showing the respective differences in degree of separation from a density Tm which maximizes the degree of separation to a highest density Te.

Abstract: An image rendering system for generating discrete tone image data for representing continuous tone image data to be rendered by a rendering device. The continuous tone image data includes a plurality of pixel values each associated with a pixel. The rendering device renders a colorant in a plurality of colorant densities. The image rendering system comprises a threshold array, preferably stochastic, a colorant density array, and a colorant density supply arrangement. The threshold array comprising a plurality of threshold values. The colorant density array comprises a plurality of array elements, each associated with one of said pixel values and one of said threshold values. Each of the array elements identifies a particular one of a plurality of colorant density values each associated with one of the colorant densities rendered by said rendering device.

Abstract: Light reflected from a document surface is given first color dispersion when passing through a prism interface and second color dispersion when passing through another prism interface. The second color dispersion is in an opposite direction to and has larger partial dispersion in a blue range than the first color dispersion. The prism interface may be replaced by an interface of two lenses which interface is a curved surface whose center of curvature is deviated from the optical axis of the reflected light in the auxiliary scanning direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modifying communications handshake data includes the interception of a first handshake transmission generated by a local unit in response to a request from a remote unit. The intercepted transmission is prevented from being transmitted to the remote unit, and stored and modified as desired. The remote unit is prompted to send a second request to the local unit. The local unit's response transmission is again intercepted, the stored and modified transmission being sent in lien of the intercepted transmission. The invention may be used for the modification of facsimile TSI data to provide routing codes in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,743.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus providing separate fixed object focal planes for transmissive and reflective original documents to be scanned, wherein a scan carriage containing illumination, sensor, and optical elements is moved together to scan an original document and to obtain a digitized representation thereof. The movable scan carriage has an illumination source disposed between the reflective and transmissive object focal planes, with the object focal plane to be used selected by changing the position of one or more optical elements within the scan carriage. The illumination source comprises a removable lamp cartridge with one or more lamps disposed for correct illumination of the selected object focal plane.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus for conducting gradation recording by changing the size of dots on the basis of inputted image data, has a memory unit for storing a plurality of input image level-print output level characteristics for effecting gradation correction to the inputted image data, and a gradation correction unit for selecting different input image-print output level characteristics from the memory unit in each 1/n period of a transmission period of the inputted image data when n is a natural number of 2 or more, and determining the size of dots to be printed, in accordance with this output level. The apparatus can minimize the drop of resolution, can improve gradation, and can satisfy both gradation and resolution in good balance.