Abstract: The present invention provides a facsimile apparatus which comprises a host computer interface control component for controlling an interface with a host computer connected to an external device, a host computer capability detecting component for receiving capability information from the host computer through the host computer interface control component, a control signal preparing component for generating a protocol control signal based on the capability information detected by the host computer capability detecting component, and a communication control component for transferring a file utilizing the protocol control signal generated by the control signal preparing component.

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: A facsimile apparatus comprises discriminating means for discriminating whether a sending image is a color information or not. The apparatus transmits a color information in the transmitting mode corresponding to the discrimination provided by the foregoing discriminating means subsequent to sending to a receiver at a destination in advance the page information determined by the foregoing discriminating means as having a color information when the receiver at the destination has a color receiving function, and transmits all the page information as monochromic information when the receiver at the destination does not have any color receiving function.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reproducing an original image includes a scanner or other image source for generating a digitized raw image data for each pixel area of an image. For each pixel the raw image data is transformed into a gray level rendering value pixel by comparing the raw image data value with threshold values from threshold mask sets. Tone adjustment means is provided for generating a tone corrected rendering gray level pixel value for each pixel. A printer or display is controlled to print the digitized image signal by rendering the dot regions in accordance with the tone corrected gray level rendering pixel value. Thus after a print is made a tone correction adjustment maybe made and in response to this tone adjustment a new print can be made using rendering image data in buffer memory without the need for rescanning of the image.

Abstract: Automatic detection of defective pixel locations from digital images of scanned documents is provided. A list of tentative defect locations is kept, and as each document is scanned, entries are added to the list. As subsequent documents occur with the same color pixel in the same location, a count for that tentative defect location is incremented, but if the color of the pixel in that location changes, the count is reduced or zeroed. If a count for a location is incremented above a threshold, the tentative defect is flagged as an actual defect and a defect detector outputs or flags that pixel location as being an actual defect location. If memory size is constrained, the number of entries in the defect list is capped at some maximum size and a tentative defect location is added to the list only if an entry is available.

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 resolution of the digitized representation of the scanned original document can be determined independently of the selection of object focal plane.

Abstract: When a frame marked with a marker pen in a black-and-white image is to be extracted, an intermediate-density portion present on a character edge portion is removed by a frame extracting circuit. The frame extracting circuit removes an intermediate-density pixel adjacent to a high-density pixel corresponding to a character/figure. Accordingly, the extracting precision of the marker portion in the black-and-white image is improved. The extracting precision of the marker portion will not be decreased even when extraction is to be performed from an image enlarged by an input system.

Abstract: An image reading device capable of preventing, by increasing the quantity of light at the center or bound portion of a spread book document, the quantity of light from becoming short and preventing density from becoming irregular due to the deviation of a focus. At and around the center of a spread book document where the document is bound, the quantity of light for illumination or the amplification gain of image data read from the document is increased. A plurality of fluorescent lamps illuminate the surface of the document at the upstream side and downstream side with respect to an intended scanning direction. When the edge of the document is to be detected, only one of the lamps is turned on to enhance the stripe pattern representative of the stepped edge portion of the document.

Abstract: A facsimile apparatus comprises a receiving buffer for receiving video data, a scanner for reading an image, a VRAM for storing a coded data, a single coding/decoding (C/D) IC for MR-coding, MR-to-MMR coding, decoding, and error-checking, and a page printer, and a control circuit, when an event requiring more than two operations of the C/D IC at the same time, the control circuit permits only one operation and force the other operations to wait in some condition. In another condition, the control circuit permits one of the other operation and force the other operations to wait. For example, when the scanner reads an image to produce read data and the C/D IC codes the read data to store the read data in the VRAM and there is a call, the control means connects the line but keeps the coding if the receiving buffer has a space. In the presence of the space the control circuit interrupt the coding and starts the decoding.

Abstract: A reference surface for determining a threshold level of an image sensor is provided on a guide plate swingable with a cover away from the image sensor. The reference surface has markings thereon for determining a reading range of the image sensor. The image reading device makes three detections from the reading of the reference surface: a detection of the cover position by detecting the presence of the markings; a detection of the reading range of the image sensor by detecting the arrangement of the markings; and a detection of the threshold level of the image sensor by detecting the background of the reference surface. The threshold level is not taken until the device has determined that the cover is closed.

Abstract: Copying device with a scanner camera (1) for scanning originals (14) which can be illuminated for the copying process, having an optical system (5) for optical projection of the original and having a photoelectric line sensor (2), at the output (102) of which the electric signals of the individual scanning points are available. The signal output of the line sensor (2) is connected directly to the input of the print mechanism (100) of a per se conventional printer (101). In particular there is provided a hydraulic drive of the line sensor (2) to be moved. With this scanner camera, copies can be made very rapidly one after another.

Abstract: An image reader reads images from above a document platen upon which is placed a document such as a book or the like while using fingers or hands to press both edges of said document so as to prevent the pages of the document from rising upwardly, wherein the image reader determines the position of blank area in accordance with a background luminance, a character frequency of picture element, and position in subscan direction, and erases image data of blank area and its outside image data to erase image data of fingers or hands.

Abstract: A distance between an original sensor and an image sensor is determined by counting a number of pulses of a stepping motor driving an original feeder as an original travels between the original sensor and the image sensor. A pair of markings on a white level reference member opposing the image sensor are used to determine the reading range of the image sensor, and further, when the original travelling past the image sensor obscures the markings, the obscuring of the markings is sensed by a controller and used to determine the above-mentioned distance. A starting position for the image sensor to begin sensing an image borne by an original is set by the controller based upon the distance, and the starting position is recorded in an EEPROM such that it can be recalled between uses of the device.

Abstract: Image data, read by an image reading device and binarized, is stored in a buffer memory by one scanning line. Then a compressive coding on the stored image data by one scanning line and a compressive coding on image data developed form codes, such as codes written in a page description language (PDL), or image data read from a predetermined memory are performed by a single encoder.

Abstract: In an image scanner having a flat bed type structure and an automatic document feeding type structure, the scanner includes: an image read unit at least including a lamp, a mirror and CCD sensors to read a manuscript which is put on the structure; an image control unit operatively connected to the image read unit to process an image read by the image read unit; a host computer operatively connected to the image control means; and the image control unit including a main printed-circuit board provided for the original functions of the image scanner, a main connector connecting the image control means to the host computer, a user printed-circuit board selectively provided by a user as an extended slot and the board being mounted within the image control unit, and a user connector connecting the main printed-circuit board to the user printed-circuit board.

Abstract: A multicolor printing method employing a color printer capable of printing non-overlapping red, green, blue and black colorants, includes the steps of: providing a digital color image having n-bit/color pixels; dividing the digital image into a plurality of pixel blocks; identifying pure red, green, blue, black and white pixels in each block and assigning such pixels to be printed with the corresponding colorant or white (no colorant); calculating percent red, green, blue, black and white for remaining pixels in each block; using the calculated percentages, assigning remaining pixels in each block to be printed with pure colorant or white according to a predetermined filling procedure; and printing the image using the assigned colorants.

Abstract: A pixel clock generator in which the frequency of a pixel clock signal is changed over for every scanning face prior to start of image record scanning, comprises a first scanning time detection circuit for detecting scanning period of time from the start of image scanning to the end of the image scanning; a reference clock signal generation circuit for generating a reference clock signal to make the frequency of the reference clock signal variable; a number-of-pixel-clocks setting circuit for setting the number of pixel clocks corresponding to forecast scanning time; a second scanning time detection circuit for counting the pixel clocks generated based the reference clock signal by the number set by the number-of-pixel-clocks setting circuit to detect the scanning time corresponding to the forecast scanning time; a comparison circuit for comparing the time detected by the first scanning time detection circuit with the time detected by the second scanning time detection circuit to obtain a comparison result; a

Abstract: A device for automatically transmitting a document in a facsimile system includes a central processing unit (CPU) that enables automatic transmission of image data from a document by dialing a telephone number recorded on the document in response to entry of a transmission start key. A key input unit includes the transmission start key and a number of function keys and provides key data to the central processing unit (CPU). A scanner scans the image data and the telephone number recorded on the document and converts the scanned image into digital image data. A pattern recognition unit recognizes the pattern of the telephone number scanned by the scanner. A dialing unit transmits a dialing signal through a public telephone network, and a line interface unit (LIU) forms a data transmission path with a receiving facsimile device to enable transmission of the image data.

Abstract: A system and process prints a high resolution image on a high addressable image output terminal by converting an image at one resolution to an image having a lower resolution in a fast-scan direction and a higher resolution in a pixel depth direction. The converted image is then processed and binarized prior to being printed on a high addressable printer. The system or process utilizes a conversion circuit which includes a two-bit per pixel packing circuit, a scanline buffer circuit, a logic circuit, and a look-up table. The conversion circuit initially converts the image into an image having a lower resolution in the fast-scan direction and a higher pixel depth resolution. Thereafter, the image is further converted to an image having a lower resolution in the slow-scan direction and a higher pixel depth resolution. This conversion of a high resolution image to a lower resolution is carried without any substantial lost to the image content data.

Abstract: An improved error diffusion method for incorporating into a halftoning algorithm for processing gray scale images to counterpart binary images. The improved error diffusion method adopts a tone scale function to process the input gray scale image before proceeding with the halftoning (error diffusion) processing in order to improve the image darkening problem caused by the conventional error diffusion method and a noise correction process to eliminate the background noises resulted from the accumulated error of the conventional error diffusion method. The proceeding of the tone scaling process and the halftoning process are parallel with the correction process so that errors generated in either one will not affect the other.