Abstract: Lines of input image data are scaled in a first dimension, the one-dimensionally scaled lines are stored in a buffer memory until a sufficient number of lines have been stored to perform scaling equally in two dimensions, and the stored lines are then scaled in a second dimension to produce image data scaled two-dimensionally by a user-selected scaling percentage. A first image scaling method is used to scale the input image data if the user-selected scaling percentage exceeds a predetermined threshold value, such as 50 percent, and a second scaling method is used if the scaling percentage does not exceed the threshold value. The first method can be, for example, linear interpolation, and the second method can be, for example, averaging.

Abstract: An image forming device may be upgraded through scanning an encoded upgrade sheet. A controller and associated circuitry in the image forming device may extract upgrade data, including firmware data for the device, from the scanned upgrade sheet and write the data to a memory device. The upgrade sheets may include an image comprising a pattern of data blocks, with each block having a color shade representative of binary data. The upgrade sheets may be distributed to users in different manners, including mailing upgrade sheets, electronically mailing the image, or providing the image on a network accessible to the users. The upgrade sheets may include a preamble that triggers the upgrade procedure as well as header and footer information describing the upgrade data.

Abstract: A method and system for performing dual-sided scanning of an original document in a device having an automatic document feeder uses two application specific circuits (ASICs), each ASIC configured to control an associated scanning element. A first of the two ASICs receives position information about a motor associated with the automatic document feeder, or the document itself, and uses this position information to determine when to read a line of scan data from its associated scanning element. The first ASIC also uses the position information to create a scanning synchronization signal that is sent to the second ASIC. The second ASIC uses the scanning synchronization signal to determine when to read data from its associated scanning element.

Abstract: An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is configured to perform image processing tasks on a printer or other multi-function device. The ASIC includes a processor, a dedicated cache memory, a cache controller and additional Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) normally employed in image processing tasks. This additional SRAM may be dynamically allocated as a cache memory when not otherwise occupied.

Abstract: A method, and a document scanning apparatus employing the method, of scanning with a light source. The method comprises the acts of determining a calibration time of the light source and light sensor in a scanning unit, adjusting an activation time for the light source based on the calibration time, scaling a clock signal based on the activation time, and activating the light source based on the scaled clock signals. Where a red, green and blue LED light source is used, the longest of the activation times of the LEDs is used for the scaling of the clock signals. In another embodiment, the time between the start of the activation of last LED scan on a previous scan line and the start of activation of the first LED on the subsequent scan line is adjusted to maintain the predetermined resolution used for the scan.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for reducing the memory requirement for offset and gain calibration to relieve the size/performance bottleneck in scanner systems. The resulting methodology produces visually equivalent scanned results with a substantial increase in performance, which results in a shorter amount of time required to output a first copy in, for example, an all-in-one device. Since the calibration step is often the bottleneck in scanner performance, this method noticeably speeds up scan and copy time. Implementing the decompression in hardware requires a minimal amount of hardware overhead and complexity. Thus, this method has a minimal impact on the size and cost of the scanner controller (e.g., an ASIC—application specific integrated circuit). Since compression only takes place at most once per scan, this added step has no significant impact on the overall scan time.

Abstract: Scanned image content is analyzed by identifying and quantifying each of a number of pixel categories in sub-regions of a rectangular grid defined over the scanned-in image data. The counts or other quantities are compared with predetermined pixel distributions, and the sub-regions are characterized in response to the comparison. An image processing operation that depends upon the characterization can then be performed.

Abstract: Image pixels are scaled on a conceptual grid having a predetermined number of potential pixel locations, such as 128, between locations of pixels of the input image data. The user-selected scaling percentage can be used to directly locate scaled pixels on the grid. A grid having a relatively large number of potential pixel locations provides a large scaling range. For example, 128 locations can provide a range of up to 12,800 percent.

Abstract: Lines of input image data are scaled in a first dimension, the one-dimensionally scaled lines are stored in a buffer memory until a sufficient number of lines have been stored to perform scaling equally in two dimensions, and the stored lines are then scaled in a second dimension to produce image data scaled two-dimensionally by a user-selected scaling percentage. A first image scaling method is used to scale the input image data if the user-selected scaling percentage exceeds a predetermined threshold value, such as 50 percent, and a second scaling method is used if the scaling percentage does not exceed the threshold value. The first method can be, for example, linear interpolation, and the second method can be, for example, averaging.