Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that identifies halftone regions within a digital image. During operation, the system receives a region from the digital image, wherein the digital image is a bi-level image, wherein each pixel has two possible color values. Next, the system computes a variation index for a region of the digital image, wherein the variation index indicates how frequently adjacent pixel values in the region differ. If the variation index for the region is greater than an upper threshold, the system determines that the region is a halftone region.

Abstract: A x-y RAM array with a reconfigurable bit width is provided. The array contains a RAM cell columns organized into a number of column groups where the number of groups determines the bit width of the memory. The number of columns in each group are configurable thereby configuring the number of groups and thus the bit width of the memory. Multiplexor logic selects a column from each group to be accessed and passgate logic determines how the multiplexor logic is combined and thus determined the column group configuration. Decode logic provides the appropriate select signals to the multiplexor logic for selecting from the configured number of columns in each group.