Abstract: A thermal head drive unit comprises electric power supply means for supplying electric power to heat-generating resistor elements arranged in a line in a thermal head. Head drive means is provided for electrically driving the heat-generating resistor elements in a lump by supplying electric power continuously variably in time to the heat-generating resistor elements depending on input gradation data. Head drive control means controls the head drive means in such a manner that, in a one-line recording time period composed of a power supply time during which electric power is supplied to the heat-generating resistor elements and an intermission time during which no electric power is supplied to the heat-generating resistor elements in disregard of the gradation data, the intermission time occupies a part not more than approximately 40% in the one-line recording time period.

Abstract: An interpolation apparatus for preventing image deterioration caused by correlation detection errors. The apparatus comprises a calculation means for obtaining the arithmetic mean of pixels on the scan lines above and below the line being interpolated, a correlation value detection means for obtaining the correlation value of the pixels, a setting means for outputting the reference value of correlation, a comparison means for outputting a binary signal set, a determination means for determining the interpolation line, and a selection means for selecting and passing the output of the calculation means.

Abstract: In order to realize a method of color correction which is capable of performing the UCR compensating for the non-linearity of the superposed densities and the non-linear color correction meeting the non-linearity of the superposed densities at high accuracy with a configuration in substantially the same scale as the conventional linear UCR and linear masking techniques, there is provided a color correction method comprising first conversion means for converting the C, M, Y density information by a monotonously incremental non-linear function with a similarly monotonously incremental derivative, matrix means, and second conversion means for converting the same density information by a monotonously incremental non-linear function with a monotonously decremental derivative.

Abstract: A gradation correction apparatus for processing R, G, and B input signals includes a luminance signal conversion device for obtaining the original luminance signal, which is before gamma conversion, from the input signals, a luminance gamma conversion device for gamma converting the original luminance signal to the desired gradation characteristics to obtain a gamma converted luminance signal, a correction coefficient calculation means for obtaining a ratio of the gamma converted luminance signal to the original luminance signal, a first RGB operation means for multiplying the ratio by each of the R, G, and B input signals for obtaining primary gradation-corrected R, G, and B signals; a color difference signal operation means for producing a difference between each of the R, G, and B input signals and the original luminance signal; a second RGB operation means for adding the gamma converted luminance signal to each of the difference for obtaining secondary gradation-corrected R, G, and B signals; and an RGB d

Abstract: An image contour enhancing device for enhancing contours in images in an image data formed by a plurality of pixel data includes differentiation circuits for differentiating the image data to produce first and second order differentiation signals. The first order differentiation signal represents an image data portion corresponding to front and rear edges of the contour, and the second order differentiation signal represents first and second half portions in each of the front and rear edges of the contour. The second order differentiation is used for a time modulation signal applied to a time modulation circuit to modulate in the time domain the image data in response to the time modulation signal such that the first half portion in the front and rear edges of the contour is delayed, and the second half portion in the front and rear edges of the contour is advanced.

Abstract: A visual recognition device receives video signals representing an object to be recognized from a video camera, converts the video signals to a two-valued input pattern, and compares the input pattern with a standard pattern to recognize the object. The recognition device includes an auxiliary computing unit which carries out a predetermined auxiliary computation during a horizontal scan period of the video camera, in accordance with the state of the input pattern; a main computation unit for carrying out, during a vertical return scan blanking period of the video camera, a main computation based on computation results of the auxiliary computation unit; and a recognition unit for recognizing the input pattern with respect to the standard pattern based on computation results of the main computation unit with respect to the patterns.

Abstract: A hardware and software image processing system is disclosed in which geometric features are extracted from a graphic image included in a picture image of an object according to data on edge addresses by carrying out an edge detection and address data collection requiring a large amount of processing work using dedicated hardware circuitry and carrying out arithmetic and other processes by means of software and a microcomputer.

Abstract: An electrophotographic recording apparatus comprises means for accurately detecting the amount of consumption of a developer still by means of a simple construction and also means for outputting a signal for indicating to resupply the developer at proper timing. Since the amount of consumption of the developer is substantially proportional to the number of illuminated dots produced by exposing means, a CPU reads, at every predetermined period, output count values of a counter, which counts the number of illuminated dots produced by the exposing means, and integrally adds up the output count values. Then, the CPU compares the integration result of the output count values with a predetermined value and thereby decides a shortage of the developer.