Abstract: An image reading device selectively performs contrast adjustment on edge portions of the image, while suppressing contrast adjustment on noise and roughness of the image, thus obtaining a smooth and modulated image. Light emitted from a light source passes through or is reflected from an original document and is incident on a CCD line sensor, which outputs an electrical signal. This signal is input into an edge contrast unit, e.g., via a gain control amplifier, an A/D converter and a CCD signal processor. The edge contrast unit includes a computation unit by which edge contrast adjustment is accomplished selectively on input signals based on a comparison coefficient input from a comparison coefficient input unit and a contrast coefficient input from a contrast coefficient input unit. The resulting signal is stored in FIFO memory after passing through a normalizing processor, a DPI converter, and a LUT, for example.

Abstract: An image processing method for converting multi-gradation image data into two-gradation image data by employing an error diffusion method, the image processing method comprises the steps of: (1) adding a diffusion error derived from at least one pixel which has already been binary-coded and is located near a pixel of interest to multi-gradation image data of this pixel of interest to thereby obtain corrected data; (2) comparing the corrected data with a threshold value and converting the corrected data into two-gradation image data for indicating any one of a dot ON and a dot OFF; (3) calculating a quantizing error corresponding to a difference between the corrected data and a first evaluation value corresponding to the two-gradation image data; (4) diffusing the quantizing error to a plurality of pixels which have not yet been binary-coded and are located near the pixel of interest; and (5) varying the first evaluation value corresponding to the two-gradation image data indicative of the dot ON in accordance

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for depleting raster data to provide for faster printing and also to allow printing of the depleted raster data, with a printed dot size that is larger that would otherwise be utilized with the undepleted raster data, on a pixel grid having the resolution of the undepleted raster data. Also disclosed is a technique for up scaling raster data at a particular resolution (e.g., 300 dpi) is scaled in such a manner that the upscaled raster data includes only printed pixels that correspond one-to-one with the printed pixels of the original data and wherein the relative locations of the printed pixels of the original data are maintained in the up scaled raster data. Further disclosed is a technique for printing a pixel array having a particular resolution with a print element array having print elements disposed for printing at a lesser resolution.

Abstract: In an image reading apparatus arranged such that the supply of a drive clock signal CCD-CLK to a CCD solid-state imaging device is stopped during a standby period when an image is not read, during the standby period a high-level control signal CCDEN is generated by a clock-generating circuit, and is imparted to the CCD solid-state imaging device through an OR circuit and an inverter 14 so as to hold the drive clock signal CCD-CLK at a low level, thereby holding an output signal level of the CCD solid-state imaging device at a d.c. output bias level.

Abstract: The controller unit 2a can perform in a color extraction mode and a marker processing mode. The color extraction mode is a mode in which an image within the range of a particular color is extracted and reproduced in that color. In the marker processing mode, an area surrounded by a color marker is detected and a prescribed processing is performed for an image in that area. A main-scan smoothing circuit 130 changes the number of pixels or the weighting coefficients used in smoothing in accordance with above described modes.

Abstract: A manual type image scanner rolls on X-direction and Y-direction rollers which support the scanner for translation in X and Y-directions, respectively. The scanner scans a surface while translated in the Y-direction. The X-direction roller is positioned on the scanner so that it is remote from a scanned surface when the scanner is supported on the Y-direction rollers. The position of the X-roller is such that the scanner can be supported on the X-direction rollers by tilting the scanner about one end of the Y-direction rollers until the X-direction roller contacts the surface and further tilting the scanner to lift the Y-direction rollers off the surface. Movements of the X-direction and Y-direction rollers are registered by encoders so that an area wider than an image width of the scanner can be scanned by consecutively scanning adjacent paths by making alternating traversals in the X- and Y-directions.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method which can be selectively used in a variable mode and a fixed mode. In the variable mode, the quantizing values and thresholds for converting high valued image gradation into low valued image gradation can be changed so as to vary the surface gray levels of a printable image at a fixed laser gradation value. In the fixed mode, constant thresholds and quantizing values are used. The use of selectable operation modes enables easy printing operation with increased quality. Also, constant quality of printable images despite environmental changes may be realized by sensing and comparing currently read reference data with initially stored reference data and subsequently correcting quantizing values and thresholds in accordance with the compared result.

Abstract: A facsimile device having a printer function, the facsimile device capable of receiving data from another facsimile device and from a data processing device. The facsimile device includes a device for setting a priority operating mode, the priority operating mode setting one of a print priority mode and a facsimile priority mode, and a device for setting at least one time out period. If the facsimile device is in the print priority mode, the facsimile device is released from the print priority mode after the time out period has elapsed. The facsimile device further includes a device for selecting one of the time out periods in accordance with whether the facsimile device is receiving the computer data from the data processing device.

Abstract: A digital scanning system for scanning a document includes a full width array having two sets of color sensitive photosites, each set of photosites being sensitive to a different color of light and a backdrop portion. The backdrop portion is colored such that the backdrop portion appears nearly black to one set of color sensitive photosites and appears nearly white to a different set of color sensitive photosites. the scanning system further includes a light source, a document edge detection circuit operatively connected to the set of color sensitive photosites which perceive the backdrop portion as being nearly black, and an image processing circuit operatively connected to the set of color sensitive photosites which perceive the backdrop portion as being nearly white.

Abstract: A method and a device for transmitting print data from a computer to a print control device for controlling a printer, wherein a desired one of attribute data sets which accompany respective image data sets is replaceable by a new image data set in a data transmission mode of the computer, and the attribute data set accompanying the original image data set replaced by the new image data set is suitably changed according to the new image data set. The print data including the new image data set and the changed attribute data set are transmitted to the print control device. The print data may include direct image data such as bit map data, and non-direct image data which include indirect image data such as character data and graphic data, and print control data such as attribute data.

Abstract: Provided is an image sensing apparatus in which it is possible to use an optical system having a large aperture and an image sensing system such as an image sensing element in an image sensing cartridge docked with a portable image device. The image sensing apparatus includes a portable information device and an image sensing cartridge, which has at least an image sensing system, capable of being loaded in and unloaded from the information device. An image sensing operation becomes possible by docking the information device and the image sensing cartridge. The image sensing cartridge has an opening, which is for introducing light to the image sensing system, the aperture of which is designed to be larger than the shortest portion of an insertion port, which is provided in the information device, for inserting the image sensing cartridge.

Abstract: An image rendering system, for generating discrete tone image data representing a continuous-tone image for rendering by a rendering device, the image rendering system includes a stochastic threshold array generating arrangement and an image data processing section. The stochastic threshold array generating arrangement generates a plurality of stochastic threshold arrays from a random seed pattern that have been subsequently optimized to reduce image artifacts in the rendering of tones. Each pattern is optimized to reflect (i) a selected trade-off between grain and possible mottle in the rendered image, (ii) distortions introduced by the rendering device in rendering an image defined by the pattern and an observer in viewing the image, and (iii) boundary effects so that the patterns, when tiled together, have optimal visual characteristics proximate their respective edges.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprising: a first coding device for coding input image data into code data having a variable length; a second coding device for coding code data having the variable length and coded by the first coding device into code data having a fixed length; and a memory for storing code data coded by the first coding device.

Abstract: A system for causing a device such as a printer to receive data from an external device such as a host computer, the system allowing the printer to automatically set not only a pattern for outputting an acknowledge signal (ACK) and a busy signal (BUSY) but also the capacity of a receiving buffer so as to match the external device, so that efficient data reception can be made, thereby freeing the external device at an early stage of the data reception.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image reading apparatus for reading images of original documents by moving the original relative to a stationary image reader. A single image reader is used in a first embodiment. When reading the image of a first side, the single image reader is stationary at a first position to read the original. When reading the image of a second side, the single image reader is moved to a second position corresponding to the size of the original, and reads the image of the second side while said image reader is stationary at the second position. The image reading apparatus of the second embodiment uses a stationary first reader for reading a first side of an original, and a movable second image reader for reading a second side of an original. The image reading apparatus of the second embodiment changes the position of the image reader in accordance with the size of the original.

Abstract: A communication device that can operate as a facsimile only, telephone only, or combined device having the ability to retransmit data, either a message or identification data, originated at a first site to another site. The device has the capability of breaking communications when incoming data is identical to data previously received based upon the identification data of the originator.

Abstract: The facsimile machine codes image data in order to reduce the data size to be transmitted. In coding an image data, an adaptive template pixel is referred to whose position relative to the pixels to be coded is kept constant. In a sampling period, the relative position of the adaptive template pixel is changed for each image data among predetermined positions, and a compression rate is calculated and stored. When an image data is transmitted after the sampling period, the adaptive template pixel is set at one of the positions which yielded high compression rates in the sampling period.

Abstract: An image read-out and processing apparatus comprises an image read-out section, which carries out a preliminary readout and a final readout, and an image processing section. In the final readout, the amount of light irradiated to an image storage sheet, on which an image has been recorded, and/or the light accumulation time of a photoelectric conversion device is adjusted appropriately in accordance with preliminary read-out image information obtained from the preliminary readout. The image processing section is provided with a color and density correcting device for correcting the final read-out image information such that the color and the density of the image may become appropriate, and for determining the degree of correction, which is carried out on the final read-out image information, in accordance with a parameter, which is set in accordance with the preliminary read-out image information. A parameter correcting device corrects the parameter in accordance with the final read-out image information.

Abstract: An apparatus for dithering an input image to produce an output array for representation on an output device is described. The apparatus includes an input device to store input image pixels having a first plurality of chrominance or luminance levels; a dithering system including a dither template including an M by N matrix of integer threshold values, the uniform distribution of threshold values throughout the dither template possessing homogeneous attributes. The apparatus further includes a normalizer unit for normalizing the threshold values of the dither template for storage in a dither matrix according to the first plurality of chrominance or luminance levels of the input image pixels and a second plurality of chrominance or luminance levels of the output array and a summation unit to add the input image pixel chrominance or luminance values to the normalized threshold values of the dither matrix.

Abstract: A method for designing a frequency periodic filter with a frequency response which has a periodic bandwidth including designing a first sampled data filter whose response corresponds to a set period and replacing each unit sampling delay by a second sampled data filter.