Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a digital scanner for scanning images. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for accurately scanning documents and for processing digital data to provide digital images stored in memory, which can be retrieved for printing on support material or for displaying on a display screen.

Abstract: An image is rotated in opponent color space, such as L*a*b* or Y CB CR color space, by inputting the opponent color space image data, subsampling the opponent color space image data, and addressing the subsampled opponent color space image data into an output configuration corresponding to a specified rotation angle. For 90° and 270° rotation, the opponent color space image data is scaled before being addressed. This eliminates distortion of the rotated image, while allowing real-time rotation of the image in hardware.

Abstract: An image is rotated in opponent color space, such as L*a*b* or Y CB CR color space, by inputting the opponent color space image data, subsampling the opponent color space image data, and addressing the subsampled opponent color space image data into an output configuration corresponding to a specified rotation angle. For 90° and 270° rotation, the opponent color space image data is scaled before being addressed. This eliminates distortion of the rotated image, while allowing real-time rotation of the image in hardware.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a digital scanner for scanning images. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for quickly processing and storing digital data in memory.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a loopback direct memory access control system for a digital scanner for processing images. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for quickly reading digital data from memory, processing the digital data and writing the processed digital data to memory.

Abstract: A method of rotating an input image matrix of pixel data 180° to form an output image matrix of pixel data using a computer. The input image matrix is divided into pre-rotated bands of image pixels. Groups of pixels of a first pre-rotated band are accessed beginning at a bottom end of the first band and ending at a top end of the first band. The order of the pixels within each group of pixels of the first band is then reversed. The groups of reordered pixels are written to a band memory to form a rotated band of pixel data. In the rotated band of pixel data, the order of the groups of pixels of the rotated band is in reverse order to the order of the groups of pixels in the first band. The steps of accessing, reversing, and writing steps are repeated for the other bands of image pixels. Finally, the rotated bands are combined in reverse order of the pre-rotated bands to form the output image matrix. Optionally, the bands are concurrently reordered and compressed.

Abstract: A multiplexing bus controller with input conditioning is provided in which the need for a dedicated microprocessor for handling input filtering, input change detection and serial-to-parallel/parallel-to-serial I/O data conversion is eliminated. The controller is realized in a gate array and provides input data oversampling and output refreshing to eliminate random noise coupled to the data lines. In addition, the oversampled data is filtered to debounce the signal received from the input devices. The input data is converted from serial-to-parallel and checked to detect any change from the previous input data stream. Upon detection of an input change, the host microprocessor is interrupted. When the host microprocessor sends data to the bus controller, the bus controller then converts the data to a serial stream for communication to the appropriate output device. Additionally, the bus controller is provided with an internal turnaround circuit to loop back outputs to the inputs for diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: A printing system, for merging a scanned image with a merge image to produce a composite image, is provided. The printing system includes a memory for storing the merge image, in the form of a first set of image data, and a decompression device for decompressing the first set of image data. The printing system further includes a scanner, for reading a hard-copy page to generate a second set of image data, and a annotate/merge device, the annotate/merge device electronically merging the decompressed first set of image data with the second set of image data to produce the composite image.

Abstract: A printing system for processing one or more images of a job is provided. The printing system includes a video bus communicating with both a first transfer module and an image processing section. In operation, a first segment of the job is processed in the image processing section while a second segment of the job is buffered in the first transfer module. Subsequently, the first segment of the job is transferred away from the image processing section, with a second transfer module, coincidentally with the the second segment being transferred to the image processing section.