Abstract: An image processing apparatus in which the reusability of digital image data is improved is disclosed. The apparatus includes an image reading unit reading a draft and obtaining the digitized image data; an image writing unit printing image data on a transfer paper; a recording unit recording image data and attached information of the image data; an external I/F unit transmitting and receiving image data and attached information of the image data; a first and a second image data processing units processing the image data from the image reading unit and the recording unit, respectively; and a bus controlling unit connecting each of the units. The first and the second image data processing units match the characteristics of the image data to prescribed characteristics so that the matched image data can be usable for both the image writing unit and the external device.

Abstract: A disclosed image forming apparatus includes an image scanning unit configured to generate image data by converting light reflected from an optically scanned printed page into electrical signals; an interface configured to receive image data from an external apparatus; an expansion bus to which the image scanning unit and the interface are connected; a bus control unit configured to control the expansion bus; an image data storage unit configured to store the image data; at least one image processing unit connected to the expansion bus and configured to perform an image processing operation on the image data; a task management unit configured to send an image processing request to the image processing unit; and an image writing unit connected to the expansion bus and configured to print the image data on which the image processing operation has been performed by the image processing unit.

Abstract: When first image data, which is in a first color space, is converted into second image data, which is in a second color space corresponding to an image output unit. Upon converting the image data, if the first image data is color data, background removal process is switched OFF. Otherwise, the background removal process is switched ON. Thus, it is possible to obtain an image desired by a user.

Abstract: When image data is determined to be reused, a first image-data processing unit performs a first image processing on the image data, a memory device accumulates the image data on which the first image processing is performed, and a second image-data processing unit performs second image processing on the image data accumulated in the memory device. When the image data is determined not to be reused, the first image-data processing unit performs a first image processing, and the second image-data processing unit performs a second image processing on the image data on which the first image processing is performed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus in which the reusability of digital image data is improved is disclosed. The apparatus includes an image reading unit reading a draft and obtaining the digitized image data; an image writing unit printing image data on a transfer paper; a recording unit recording image data and attached information of the image data; an external I/F unit transmitting and receiving image data and attached information of the image data; a first and a second image data processing units processing the image data from the image reading unit and the recording unit, respectively; and a bus controlling unit connecting each of the units. The first and the second image data processing units match the characteristics of the image data to prescribed characteristics so that the matched image data can be usable for both the image writing unit and the external device.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is disclosed. The image processing apparatus includes: an image processing unit configured to perform a plurality of image processes on image data that is input to the image processing apparatus; a unit configured to receive a specified function; an image debugging interface unit configured to output the image data on which an image process, of the plurality of image processes, corresponding to the specified function has been performed to an external apparatus in a debugging mode; and an image output unit configured to output the image data on which the image process corresponding to the specified function and following at least one image process of the plurality of image processes have been performed in the debugging mode.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image scan unit configured to scan a document to produce electronic image data, a check unit configured to make determination as to whether the document is a color document or a monochrome document based on the image data scanned by the image scan unit, a scan image correction unit configured to correct the image data scanned by the image scan unit such that the image data has predetermined data characteristics, a memory unit configured to store the image data corrected by the scan image correction unit, and an image processing unit configured to perform image processing on the image data stored in the memory unit in response to the determination made by the check unit and characteristics required for outputting of the image data.

Abstract: When image data is determined to be reused, a first image-data processing unit performs a first image processing on the image data, a memory device accumulates the image data on which the first image processing is performed, and a second image-data processing unit performs second image processing on the image data accumulated in the memory device. When the image data is determined not to be reused, the first image-data processing unit performs a first image processing, and the second image-data processing unit performs a second image processing on the image data on which the first image processing is performed.

Abstract: A disclosed image forming apparatus includes an image scanning unit configured to generate image data by converting light reflected from an optically scanned printed page into electrical signals; an interface configured to receive image data from an external apparatus; an expansion bus to which the image scanning unit and the interface are connected; a bus control unit configured to control the expansion bus; an image data storage unit configured to store the image data; at least one image processing unit connected to the expansion bus and configured to perform an image processing operation on the image data; a task management unit configured to send an image processing request to the image processing unit; and an image writing unit connected to the expansion bus and configured to print the image data on which the image processing operation has been performed by the image processing unit.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus including an image reading unit that obtains electronic image data obtained by reading a document, an image writing unit that prints the image data on transfer paper, a memory unit that stores the image data and auxiliary data of the image data, an external I/F unit that transmits and receives the image data to and from an external unit, a first image data processing unit that processes the image data from the image reading unit, a second image data processing unit that processes the image data from the memory unit, and a bus control unit that connects each of the units, a recognition function through image processing and an image processing function based on the recognition result are independently provided.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image reading unit that reads an image of a surface of a document to acquire image data and a document type setting unit that receives input of setting of a document type of the document. A color-correction-constant changing unit changes a color correction constant to be used in an image processing based on the set document type. An image-data converting unit converts the image data to an image data in a first color space that is a common color space by applying the image processing based on the color correction constant to the image data.

Abstract: An image processing method that stores image data in a storage unit is disclosed. The image data and data related to processing performed on the image data are stored in correlation with each other in the storage unit.

Abstract: When first image data, which is in a first color space, is converted into second image data, which is in a second color space corresponding to an image output unit. Upon converting the image data, if the first image data is color data, background removal process is switched OFF. Otherwise, the background removal process is switched ON. Thus, it is possible to obtain an image desired by a user.

Abstract: In an image forming device including a plurality of image processing means each having a particular function, control means combines the image processing means in accordance with a requested mode. For example, assume that an image input via first image inputting means should be processed by first image processing means, then processed by second image processing means, and then output via first outputting means. Then, the control means sets particular parameters in each of the first and second image processing means, and sets up an image path extending from the first inputting means to the first outputting means.

Abstract: An original image comprises a printed region on which a predetermined printed matter is realized and a background region on which no printed matter is realized. The shape of a peripheral zone in the original image comprises the shape of the background region, which shape exists particularly at the peripheral region of said original image. It is determined whether or not the original image comprises the special document by detecting the peripheral zone. Further, the original image has an outer-frame region, having a predetermined shape at the peripheral region of the original image. The determination is carried out using a result of measuring the width of the outer-frame region. Further, the width of the outer-frame region comprises a width along a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction extending along the outline of the original image.

Abstract: An original image comprises a printed region on which a predetermined printed matter is realized and a background region on which no printed matter is realized. The shape of a peripheral zone in the original image comprises the shape of the background region, which shape exists particularly at the peripheral region of said original image. It is determined whether or not the original image comprises the special document by detecting the peripheral zone. Further, the original image has an outer-frame region, having a predetermined shape, at the peripheral region of the original image. The determination is carried out using a result of measuring the width of the outer-frame region. Further, the width of the outer-frame region comprises a width along a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction extending along the outline of the original image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a special-document discriminating apparatus used for providing a counterfeit preventing function to a digital copy machine and the like, and to a managing system for an image forming apparatus having a special-document discriminating function. The special-document discriminating apparatus is provided with a ROM for discriminating a special-document such as paper money, which ROM is detachably attached to a controlling circuit board. Data used for determination may be learned from test pattern data input from the image forming apparatus, or the data may be input from an external unit via a communication line. The managing system for an image forming apparatus comprises an image forming apparatus and a managing apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus. Either the image forming apparatus or the managing apparatus has a special-document discriminating function.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a special-document discriminating apparatus used for providing a counterfeit preventing function to a digital copy machine and the like, and to a managing system for an image forming apparatus having a special-document discriminating function. The special-document discriminating apparatus is provided with a ROM for discriminating a special-document such as paper money, which ROM is detachably attached to a controlling circuit board. Data used for determination may be learned from test pattern data input from the image forming apparatus, or the data may be input from an external unit via a communication line. The managing system for an image forming apparatus comprises an image forming apparatus and a managing apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus. Either the image forming apparatus or the managing apparatus has a special-document discriminating function.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image reading unit for reading an original and for outputting image data corresponding to the original, an image processing unit for processing the image data supplied from the image reading unit in accordance with a predetermined method and for outputting printing image data, a printer unit for printing an image corresponding to the printing image data supplied from the image processing unit, and an image adding unit for adding an identification information to the recording sheet on which the image is formed by the printer unit, the identification information identifying the image forming apparatus in order to prevent forgery of securities, confidential documents or backnotes. A detector detects the presence or absence of the image adding unit and disables the copying functions when the image adding unit is absent.

Abstract: An image recorder for converting input bilevel image data to multilevel data, executing various kinds of image processing with the mutlilevel data, and then recording the processed multilevel data. The image recorder converts input bilevel image data to M-level data (M being equal to or greater than 2), then requantized to N-level data, and then fed to a printer capable of recording data in three or more levels. The bilevel-to-multilevel conversion is effected in matching relation to the pattern of the input bilevel data. A plurality of bilevel-to-multilevel conversion means of different kinds are provided. The bilevel-to-multilevel conversion system is changed on the basis of the kind of input bilevel data. The M-level data is subjected to edge enhancement, magnification change, and gamma correction. Color image data produced by color separation are processed color by color and then fed to a printer.