Abstract: An image reproduction apparatus having a basic function at low cost, and additional functions as an option. The image reproduction apparatus is configured to detect invalid pixels, remove a black streak, and detect a blank document page. The image reproduction apparatus includes a base engine/image data controller that includes a process controller, a RAM used as a work area, a ROM in which operation commands are stored, a video controller that processes image data and controls the flow of image data, and an I/O controller that monitors and controls I/Os of various devices, such as drivers or sensors, wherein those parts are connected via a CPU bus. The image reproduction apparatus can be extended into the form of a digital multifunction device by connecting a controller board to the base engine/image data controller via a parallel bus.

Abstract: The image processing device comprises a first function block section formed of functional blocks which require a supply of power so as to maintain the image processing device in an operating state when the power supply is on, and a second function block section formed of functional blocks which need not be supplied with the power so as to maintain the image processing device in an operating state even when the power supply is on. The supply of power to the second function block section can be stopped when desired, while continuing the supply of power to the first function block section, thereby saving the power.

Abstract: A programmable image processor capable of realizing a plurality of image formation operations is comprised of an SIMD type data operation processing section, RAMs, memory controllers, and memory switches. The memory controller and the memory switches selectively connect the plurality of RAMs to the data operation processing section thereby changing the memory capacity allotted to each image formation operation among a plurality of image formation operations.

Abstract: A method of controlling an energy saving mode in an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in an image forming process and programs for performing the image forming process includes a step of letting the image forming apparatus enter into an energy saving mode in a standby state in which the image forming apparatus is not used, and a step of recovering at least part of functions of the image forming apparatus in response to setting of a data carrier in the image forming apparatus, said data carrier being in a possession of an operator.

Abstract: In an image-processing apparatus, a digital image signal is stored in a memory, and a memory access control part entirely manages all accesses to the memory with respect to the digital image signal. An image processing part converts the digital image signal stored in the memory into an output image signal to be supplied to an imaging unit outputting a visible image based on the output image signal so that a pixel density of the output image signal is higher than a pixel density of the digital image signal read from the memory and an amount of the output image signal is less than an amount of the digital image signal stored in the memory. Accordingly, the central controlled memory is shared by a plurality of functions so as to effectively use the memory, and a high-quality image can be produced by carrying out a density conversion so as to match the pixel density.

Abstract: The support center inputs the data for updating the processing functions of the image processing apparatus to the apparatus via the LAN. The first non-volatile memory for system control temporarily stores the updating data via the image memory access controller. The second non-volatile memory for system control temporarily stores the updating data via the image memory access controller and the image data controller. The process controller stores the program and the data into the program RAM and the data RAM of the image processor via the image data controller, and updates the processing functions.

Abstract: The image processing apparatus comprises an image data control section and a system controller. The image data control section is connected to any one or more of a sensor board unit, an image-memory access control section, an image processor, a video data control section, and a facsimile control unit. The system controller switches, when the image data to be transmitted to the image data control section conflicts with one another, a transmission mode of the image data in conflict with one another. Further, the image-memory access control section and the image processor share jobs of performing image processing on the image data.

Abstract: An image processor has a controller unit connected to at least one of functional units such as an image reading unit, detects a source of input of image data according to a network I/F or a parallel bus I/F. An image-memory access control section transmits the image data input from each of the functional units to a memory group and also transmits the image data stored in the memory group to the functional unit. A system controller controls the overall apparatus and also controls the image-memory access control section according to the input source of the image data to determine an order of transmitting the image data to the memory group.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for performing at least a copying function includes an engine board, an image reading unit, an image forming unit, a controller board detachably connected to the engine board to add at least one application function to the copying function of the image forming apparatus, an operation unit, and a parallel bus that connects the controller board to the engine board. When the controller board is connected to the engine board, the operation unit displays information of the copying function and the at least one application function, and when the controller board is detached from the engine board, the operation unit displays the information of the copying function. Each of display layouts of the operation unit for the copying function is substantially identical between when the controller board is connected to the engine board and when the controller board is detached from the engine board.

Abstract: The image processor comprises a switch that divides image data into m×n pixels, having n lines with m pixels per one line; a group of line memories that store the divided image; a compression device which batch compresses the image data of m×n pixels. Further, a command control unit provides control so as to send the (n?1) lines of image data among m×n pixels of image data to the group of line memories, and the remaining one line of image data directly to the compression device 902, and to send the m×(n?1) pixels of image data stored in the line memories to the compression device.

Abstract: The image processing device comprises a first function block section formed of functional blocks which require a supply of power so as to maintain the image processing device in an operating state when the power supply is on, and a second function block section formed of functional blocks which need not be supplied with the power so as to maintain the image processing device in an operating state even when the power supply is on. The supply of power to the second function block section can be stopped when desired, while continuing the supply of power to the first function block section, thereby saving the power.

Abstract: The image processing device comprises a first function block section formed of functional blocks which require a supply of power so as to maintain the image processing device in an operating state when the power supply is on, and a second function block section formed of functional blocks which need not be supplied with the power so as to maintain the image processing device in an operating state even when the power supply is on. The supply of power to the second function block section can be stopped when desired, while continuing the supply of power to the first function block section, thereby saving the power.

Abstract: An image-processing device includes an image-reading unit that reads image data from a document optically, an image-recording unit that records the image data read onto recording paper, a first-density-correction unit that corrects first density characteristics that depend on the image-reading unit, a second-density-correction unit that corrects second characteristics to reproduce density of the document, a third-density-correction unit that corrects third density characteristics that depend on the image-recording unit, and a control unit that independently controls each of the first, second and third density-correction units to execute density correction. The image-processing device can record a high-quality image by adjusting the above described density characteristics by controlling each of the first, second and third density-correction units independently.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is disclosed that includes a storage unit that stores image data, an image data reproducing unit that reproduces the image data, a reproduced image editing unit that performs a first editing process on the reproduced image data and displays an edited image resulting from the first editing process, and an actual image editing unit that performs a second editing process on the image data stored in the storage unit according to the first editing process.

Abstract: The image processing apparatus is provided with a plural memory controllers, each of which controls a RAM. The memory controllers are connected to an SIMD type arithmetic processing section. A control register is connected to the memory controllers. The control register controls transfer of image data between the RAMs and the SIMD type arithmetic processing section.

Abstract: Documents are read and the read image data and the information about the size of the document is stored in a memory. A factor of enlargement/reduction is calculated based on the stored size information. An image processor 204 interpolates the image data based on the calculated enlargement/reduction factor and reproduces the enlarged/reduced document.

Abstract: The image processing apparatus comprises a reading unit which simultaneously reads image data from two, an obverse and a reverse, surfaces of a document, and a compressing unit which compresses received image data. The apparatus further comprises a controlling unit which orchestrates a flow of image data from the reading unit to the compressing unit in such a manner that the image data corresponding to the obverse surface and the reverse surface is input into the compressing unit at different timing.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is connected to a plurality of functional units including an image processor which processes images. A process controller provides control over the entire operation. A ROM previously stores information about the content of the image processing. The process controller reads the information stored in the ROM and transfers this information in a host buffer provided with the image processor. The image processor processes the image data based on the information stored in the host buffer.

Abstract: To solve problems associated with undesirable duplication of see-through back image in a double-sided input document, a method of and a system for substantially eliminating the undesirable see-through back images initially scanns a front side image and a back side image from the double-sided document and store the scanned images. The front side image has portions, and some of the portions include an original front image as well as a see-through back image from the back side image. An edge amount for each of the portions is determined in the front side image. The see-through back images are separated from the original front images based upon the edge amount. To further improve the correct removal of the undesired see-through back image, the above processed portions having a certain edge are smoothed. Character portions and dot pattern portions are further separated from background portions in the smoothed data.

Abstract: In an image-processing apparatus, a digital image signal is stored in a memory, and a memory access control part entirely manages all accesses to the memory with respect to the digital image signal. An image processing part converts the digital image signal stored in the memory into an output image signal to be supplied to an imaging unit outputting a visible image based on the output image signal so that a pixel density of the output image signal is higher than a pixel density of the digital image signal read from the memory and an amount of the output image signal is less than an amount of the digital image signal stored in the memory. Accordingly, the central controlled memory is shared by a plurality of functions so as to effectively use the memory, and a high-quality image can be produced by carrying out a density conversion so as to match the pixel density.