Abstract: Disclosed are a data processing apparatus which, by being providing with a software processor for implementing prescribed data processing by software and a hardware processor for implementing the prescribed data processing by hardware, makes it possible to process externally supplied data at high speed, as well as a method of selecting processors efficiently in this data processing apparatus. If data processing has been requested, the time it takes the hardware processor to execute this data processing is acquired using test data. If the time required for processing is less than a predetermined time, the hardware processor is selected to execute processing by hardware. If the time required for processing is equal to or greater than the predetermined time, the software processor is selected to execute processing by software. The appropriate processor is selected depending upon the status of utilization of the software processor and the status of utilization of the hardware processor.

Abstract: To obtain image outputs which are equivalent to those obtained with local outputs even with regard to images received from an external device, there is provided an image input/output apparatus having an input section for inputting image data of original images, and an output section for outputting image data, and being connected to at least one other image input/output apparatus via a communication medium. A transmission section transmits the image data input by the input section and image accompanying information relating to the input image data to the other image input/output apparatus. A receiving receives image data and image accompanying information relating thereto from the other image input/output apparatus. An output control section carries out control so as to output images using the output section based on the image data and the image accompanying information received by the receiving section.

Abstract: A scanner with an automatic density adjustment function executes image processing in which prescanning is performed and the background level is made white before the next scan starts. However, if an automatic density adjustment is applied when the same document is read as a color image and as a monochrome image, it is necessary to perform prescanning before the color image is read and prescanning before the monochrome image is read. Reading the image therefore takes time. Accordingly, if an automatic density adjustment based upon prescanning has been designated, prescanning is carried out and then a histogram is obtained for each of the components R, G and B and the background levels are calculated for color scanning and monochrome scanning. A table in a scanner image processor is set in accordance with a background peak value PeakBW for monochrome scanning.

Abstract: An original is allowed to pass on an exposing glass along a conveying path, thereby exposing and scanning a front surface of the original and reading an image by a CCD. A back surface of the original is subsequently fed to the exposing glass along a conveying path and is allowed to pass on the exposing glass, thereby exposing and scanning the back surface of the original. The image data read by the CCD is stored into an image buffer. The order of address columns to read out the image data on the front surface and the order of address columns to read out the image data of the back surface are made opposite. Thus, a copying apparatus which can efficiently expose and scan both of the front and back surfaces of a both-side original is provided.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a processing unit for processing an image signal into which an original document, after being exposed to light, is photoelectrically converted, a compression module for compressing image information processed through the processing unit, a memory for storing image data compressed by the compression module, a control unit for setting a diversity of image processing modes, and a predicting module for predicting an image compression rate used by the compression module. The predicting module predicts the image compression rate of an image after being processed according to the image processing mode set by the control unit.

Abstract: In an image retrieval apparatus, a desired image is recorded on a storage medium so as to correspond to an index image, and a recorded image is retrieved using an index image selected by the user. When recording an image on a storage medium or when retrieving an image from a storage medium, an index image can be assigned using a mark sheet on which a plurality of index images are printed. The image retrieval apparatus prints a mark sheet having a format corresponding to the number and the size of index images input by the user.

Abstract: An image filing apparatus includes a reading unit for reading an image of a mark sheet. The mark sheet has a plurality of index areas on each of which an index image representing index information for retrieving an image stored in a storage medium is to be printed, a plurality of check areas on each of which a check for assigning the corresponding one of the plurality of index areas is to be entered, and a drawing area for drawing an index image to be newly registered, and for outputting an image signal. The apparatus also includes a detector for detecting which check area has been checked based on the image signal from the reading unit, a registration unit for registering, in the index area corresponding to the check area detected by the detector the index image drawn in the drawing area, and a provision unit for providing the index image drawn in the drawing area as index information of an original to be read by the reading unit after the mark sheet.

Abstract: An original document reading apparatus includes a first control portion for performing a first control wherein documents are transported at a first document interval in the event that a detected occupying capacity is less than a detected unused capacity. The first control portion also performs a second control wherein documents are transported at a second document interval which is greater than the first document interval in the event that the detected occupying capacity exceeds the detected unused capacity. A second control portion continuously activates an exposure portion under the first control, and intermittently activates the exposure portion under the second control.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus for scanning an original in different directions is constructed by a light receiving unit to receive a reflection light from the original a transfer unit to transfer charges of the light received by the light receiving unit by using a transfer unit in accordance with the scanning direction a correction unit to correct an image signal outputted from the transfer unit and a control unit to control the correction in the correction unit in accordance with the scanning direction.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a read unit for reading a document sheet to generate image data, a data compression unit for compressing the image data generated by the read unit, a prediction unit for predicting data amount after the compression for the image data to be compressed by the data compression unit and a control unit for controlling the reading of the document sheet by the read means in accordance with the prediction result by the prediction means.

Abstract: A copying apparatus includes a first cassette for stacking recording sheets each having a protruding portion, a second cassette for stacking recording sheets having no protruding portion, a detecting unit for detecting a protruding portion of an original to be copied, and a copy unit for copying an image of an original onto the recording sheet fed from the first cassette in the case where the protruding portion of the original is detected by the detecting unit and for copying the image of the original onto the recording sheet fed from the second cassette in the case where the protruding portion of the original is not detected by the detecting unit.

Abstract: Image data is separated into two colors to obtain two-color image data to form a two-color image. The two-color image data is reversed to obtain reversed two-color image data, which is output to an image forming device which forms an image of two colors.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide an image processing apparatus capable of two-color output representation in high accuracy even with a full-colored original.A color original is entered by an input means for prescan, a density distribution with respect to a hue is obtained for each electric signal of color image information, and a characteristic point of the color original image is obtained from the result of the density distribution. The two-color separation means separates a full-colored original to two colors free from the same color representation according to the information of the characteristic point obtained.

Abstract: An image signal processing apparatus includes an input unit for inputting an image signal for each of at least one input line, and a conversion unit for converting the input image signal for each input line into parallel converted image signals for a plurality of output lines and for outputting the converted image signals. A processing unit is then provided for performing image processing for each of the converted image signals for the plurality of output lines.

Abstract: A two-color separating circuit separates an input image signal into two color signals R and K. In conformity with a color signal indicating the maximum value of the separated color signals, a color-mixture correcting circuit corrects the other color signal. The density of the color pixel formed by the corrected color signal is predicted, and the difference between the result of prediction and the color signal before correction is distributed among pixels of the same color surrounding this pixel. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus for supplying an image forming apparatus, which collectively forms images of two colors, with an image signal subjected to processing capable of performing excellent color mixing without lowering the density of whichever of the two color-component images is formed last.

Abstract: High density portions of images are preferentially expressed when a plurality of images constructed by multivalue image data are synthesized. A plurality of different images are synthesized, wherein overlapped multivalue image data of pixels among multivalue image data constructing the images are compared and the multivalue image data of which one of the images should be preferentially used is determined in accordance with the comparison result.

Abstract: Image retrieving and storing processes by a mark sheet are facilitated. It is determined whether or not a mark sheet is directed in a correct direction by determining the positional relation between a direction discriminating mark and mark sheet identifying marks. If the mark sheet is directed in a wrong direction, the direction of the mark sheet is corrected. If it is determined in a primary retrieval operation that there are a plurality of candidate images, a mark sheet for a second retrieving operation is output.