Abstract: A technique includes at least one chamber including a process chamber that is capable of processing a substrate and a shower head arranged in an upstream of the process chamber; a gas supplier that is capable of supplying a gas into the process chamber via the shower head; a first exhaust pipe communicating with the shower head; a second exhaust pipe communicating with the process chamber; a first exhaust controller installed in the first exhaust pipe; a first heater installed in the first exhaust pipe; and a controller configured to be capable of: (a) controlling the gas supplier so as to supply a processing gas as the gas to the shower head, and (b) controlling the gas supplier so as to supply a non-processing gas as the gas to the shower head.

Abstract: An article recognition device includes a table, a camera that captures an image of a predetermined area on the table, a memory that stores dictionary information indicating a predetermined set of feature points of each article, and a processor. The processor extracts feature points of the articles in the captured image, identifies a first article by reading identification information in the captured image, acquires the predetermined set of feature points of the identified article, specifies an article area of the first article in the captured image based on the extracted feature points and the predetermined set, removes feature points within the specified article area from the extracted feature points, and recognizes a second article based on the extracted feature points where the feature points within the specified article area have been removed and the predetermined set of feature points of the second article stored in the dictionary information.

Abstract: An article recognition device includes a table, a camera that captures an image of a predetermined area on the table, a memory that stores dictionary information indicating a predetermined set of feature points of each article, and a processor. The processor extracts feature points of the articles in the captured image, identifies a first article by reading identification information in the captured image, acquires the predetermined set of feature points of the identified article, specifies an article area of the first article in the captured image based on the extracted feature points and the predetermined set, removes feature points within the specified article area from the extracted feature points, and recognizes a second article based on the extracted feature points where the feature points within the specified article area have been removed and the predetermined set of feature points of the second article stored in the dictionary information.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a color correction apparatus includes an input portion, a storing portion and a correction portion. The input portion inputs color image signals which correspond to recording color material amounts. The storing portion stores a standard color reproduction parameter for calculating a standard color reproduction chromaticity and reference chromaticity deviation amounts at a plurality of reference color points in recording color material amount coordinate space. The correction portion estimates chromaticity deviation amounts of the input color image signals on the basis of the reference chromaticity deviation amount, calculates a standard chromaticity which corresponds to the input color image signals on the basis of the standard color reproduction parameter and corrects the input color image signals on the basis of the estimated chromaticity deviation amounts and the standard chromaticity.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a color correction apparatus includes an input portion, a storing portion and a correction portion. The input portion inputs color image signals which correspond to recording color material amounts. The storing portion stores a standard color reproduction parameter for calculating a standard color reproduction chromaticity and reference chromaticity deviation amounts at a plurality of reference color points in recording color material amount coordinate space. The correction portion estimates chromaticity deviation amounts of the input color image signals on the basis of the reference chromaticity deviation amount, calculates a standard chromaticity which corresponds to the input color image signals on the basis of the standard color reproduction parameter and corrects the input color image signals on the basis of the estimated chromaticity deviation amounts and the standard chromaticity.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, each color correction processing apparatus includes an input portion, a storing portion and a correction portion. The input portion inputs each image signal value corresponding to each color component for each recording head block in order to record a color image by a plurality of recording head blocks. The storing portion records reference color deviation amount data that shows a plurality of reference color deviation amounts corresponding to a plurality of reference color points for each recording head block. The correction portion corrects each image signal value on the basis of the reference color deviation amount data. Furthermore, the correction portion corrects a correction target image signal value corresponding to non-reference color points shifted from the reference color points by the interpolation on the basis of the reference color deviation amount data.

Abstract: A dot pattern including a set of plural dots arranged substantially periodically is formed. When positions of the plural dots are shifted dot by dot, a combination of an amount and a direction of shift of dot positions to be shifted is changed. A pattern obtained by repeating, for each predetermined period, a pattern processed in this way is superimposed on an image. Sizes of the respective dots are the same and only dot positions of the dots are shifted. Therefore, plural dot patterns having different amounts and directions of shift of dot positions visually look like uniform patterns and a sense of hindrance is low.

Abstract: A document management system of the invention is a document management system in which identification information is embedded and an image is printed, and includes a print management unit to generate information relating to printing and including at least information of distribution destinations of printed materials on which the image is printed, an identification information management unit that issues the identification information the number of which is equal to the number of the printed materials, assigns one piece of the identification information to each of the printed materials, correlates the information of the distribution destinations with the identification information, and manages them, and an image formation unit to print, on a recording sheet, the image in which the identification information associated with the information relating to the printing is embedded.

Abstract: An image having embedded data embedded therein is read to output an image signal, spectral analysis is executed for the image signal, and the embedded data embedded in the image signal is extracted based on a result of the spectral analysis and preset data.

Abstract: A dot pattern including a set of plural dots arranged substantially periodically is formed. When positions of the plural dots are shifted dot by dot, a combination of an amount and a direction of shift of dot positions to be shifted is changed. A pattern obtained by repeating, for each predetermined period, a pattern processed in this way is superimposed on an image. Sizes of the respective dots are the same and only dot positions of the dots are shifted. Therefore, plural dot patterns having different amounts and directions of shift of dot positions visually look like uniform patterns and a sense of hindrance is low.

Abstract: A system and method for printing an image on a document by generating RGB data from a scanned image, converting the RGB data to CMYK data and identifying one of a first and a second type of screening. The type of screening is identified for a first one of the CMYK data based upon the density of the first one of the CMYK data and the density of at least one of the other CMYK data.

Abstract: An image region discrimination section in an image processing section, a characteristic signal calculation result obtained by hardware is subjected to macro-scoped correction and macro-discrimination by a processor. Further, in the image region discrimination section, a resolution and a signal bit number of a characteristic signals are decreased, the resultant characteristic signals is stored in a memory, and both a macro-discrimination result and the characteristic signals are synthesized to produce a final discrimination signal.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus extracts a contour pixel of a binary input image signal in a contour pixel extraction portion, and calculates a line thinning amount from the extracted contour pixel based on a preset parameter in a line thinning amount calculation portion. The apparatus judges whether black pixel areas of the binary input image signal are connected in a finite area including a target pixel in a finite area connectivity judgment portion. The apparatus adds a line thinning amount to the binary input image signal of the target pixel in accordance with the judgment by the finite area connectivity judgment portion and outputs obtained results in a selective correction output portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first-image-reading-portion composed of a plurality of line sensors used to read a color image, a second-image-reading-portion composed of at least one line sensor used to read a monochrome image, a first-image-processing-portion which processes a first-image-signal processed and outputted by the first-image-reading-portion, a second-image-processing-portion which processes a second image signal processed and outputted by the second-image-reading-portion, a segmentation portion which outputs a segmentation signal indicative of an attribute of an image in accordance with at least one of the first and second image signals, and a signal switching portion which outputs at least one of a third image signal processed and outputted by the first-image-processing-portion and a fourth image signal processed and outputted by the second-image-processing-portion based on the segmentation signal.

Abstract: An image having embedded data embedded therein is read to output an image signal, spectral analysis is executed for the image signal, and the embedded data embedded in the image signal is extracted based on a result of the spectral analysis and preset data.

Abstract: An image signal is smoothed, a superimposed signal having embedded data superimposed therein is generated, the superimposed signal is added to the smoothed image, and the image signal having the superimposed signal added thereto is binarized.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for overlaying a pattern on an image includes loading pattern data stored in a program memory into an image memory and receiving image data and storing the received image data in the image memory. A processor overlays pattern data on to the received image data based on an overlay program. The processor has a first input channel and receives the pattern data and the received image data from the image memory via the first input channel.

Abstract: In an image editing apparatus, an image input section inputs an original image. A processor section compresses the input image and stores the compressed input image as an image file in a memory section. The processor section decompresses the image file that is stored in the memory section, and executes a layout analysis process and extracts layout information. Based on the layout information obtained by the layout analysis process and a prescribed rule, the processor section executes rearrangement of layout. Image information, which includes the rearranged information and layout information before and after the rearrangement, is stored in the memory section as a file.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of copying a document includes scanning a document and obtaining an image signal from the scanned document. Micro segmentation processing is performed on the image signal, and first data indicative of a type of pixel is output for at least one pixel. Macro segmentation processing is performed on the image signal, and second data indicative of a type of the pixel and a validity flag that indicates whether the second data is valid are output for the at least one pixel. A pixel type determination is made based on the validity flag and at least one of the first data and the second data.

Abstract: A number of character string determination sections determine whether a pixel of interest corresponds to a character or a line drawing. The character string determination sections use mutually different determination methods. A character determination selector section selects a determination result output from the character determination section that uses a determination method most suited to a background sensing result obtained by a background sensing section. In this manner, either the character or the line drawing can be determined using an efficient method in accordance with the background state of a color image.