Abstract: In one embodiment, a computing system may receive a target image with a first number of bits per color. The system may access masks that each includes dots associated with a grayscale range. A subset of the dots associated with each of the masks may be associated with a subrange of the grayscale range. The dots within the subsets of dots associated with the masks may have different positions. The system may generate a number of images based on the target image and the masks. Each of the images may have a second number of bits per color smaller than the first number of bits per color. The system may display the images sequentially on a display for representing the target image.

Abstract: A method for determining a second quantizer for quantizing digital images, wherein the second quantizer is determined for a specified number of levels, which is at least two. For the determination, a first quantizer with a lower number of levels than the specified one is taken into consideration. Furthermore, a method for coding an image comprising a plurality of pixels, a computer-readable medium, an apparatus, which implements at least two quantizers as a digital circuit and a digital camera with such an apparatus is disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are presented for using configurable additive data scrambling or descrambling circuitry for multichannel link aggregators in which a scrambler or descrambler polynomial is specified by binary data in a programmable register, and the polynomial data is used to compute a polynomial matrix. A scrambler or descrambler pattern is computed according to the polynomial matrix, and input data is bitwise exclusive-ORed with the computed scrambler or descrambler pattern to generate scrambled or descrambled output data. The scrambling or descrambling circuitry can be reconfigured for different polynomials by reprogramming the register, with the scrambler or descrambler automatically computing an updated polynomial matrix.

Abstract: A text separation method, a text separation device, and an image formation apparatus are provided. The text separation method includes obtaining a pixel value of each pixel in a to-be-processed image having a plurality of pixels; determining an edge intensity value of each pixel according to pixel values of each pixel and a preset number of pixels adjacent to each pixel; determining a binary map corresponding to the to-be-processed image according to the edge intensity value of each pixel; determining a text region determination value of each pixel according to the binary image and the pixel value of each pixel; and determining text-body regions and non-text-body regions in the to-be-processed image according to the text region determination value of each pixel.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a technique related to correction processing that can be applied to a variety of pieces of information with different resolutions, specifically, related to processing to increase resolution. The present invention is an information processing apparatus including: an acquisition unit configured to acquire first subject information and second subject information for the same subject; and a correction unit configured to increase the resolution of the second subject information based on similarity between the first subject information and the second subject information, and the first subject information and the second subject information are map data representing different physical quantities or map data representing the same physical quantity acquired by different measuring methods or different measuring devices.

Abstract: A computer system executes a method that detects an edge of an object with a Canny operator. The method calculates a gradient strength of pixels of the image and applies non-maximum suppression to the image to avoid spurious responses to edge detection. The image is divided into multiple partitions based on a brightness distribution of the pixels in the image and a set of dynamic threshold values. Multiple images for the partitions are superimposed to detect an edge of the object.

Abstract: A mechanism is described for facilitating three-dimensional (3D) depth imaging systems, and morphological and geometric filters for edge enhancement in depth images at computing devices according to one embodiment. A method of embodiments, as described herein, includes detecting an input digital image of an object, the digital image comprising data pixels contaminated by noise and confidence values corresponding to the data pixels, and computing a morphological filter by matching the confidence pixels in the input digital image with a set of matching templates, and using a set of masking templates to determine the data pixels and confidence pixels in the filtered image. The method further include computing an edge filter by performing computation of distances between the data pixels along a plurality of directions to determine an edge direction, and determining the data pixels and and the confidence pixels in a filtered image based on the edge direction.

Abstract: A high-accurate imaging increased in time resolution can be made. The camera device is provided with a plurality of pixels that include a light-receiving surface embedded region to convert incident light into charges, a charge accumulation region to accumulate the charges, and a gate electrode to control the charges to be transferred from the light-receiving surface embedded region to the charge accumulation region, and are one-dimensionally arranged in each of a plurality of columns, a timing generation circuit which generates a control pulse voltage to be applied to the gate electrode, and a correction circuit unit which is provided in accordance with each of a plurality of columns of the pixels, delays the control pulse voltage in a variable time, and applies the control pulse voltage to the gate electrodes of the plurality of pixels belonging to a column corresponding to the control pulse voltage.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an image determining unit configured to determine a gradation value for each predetermined range in input image data; and a screen generator configured to arrange dot images around a plurality of growth centers in a halftone dot screen to form respective dot blocks if an input area rate indicating a ratio of black to white in dot images at the gradation value is smaller than a value at which an image defect occurs, and form bridges to connect adjacent dot blocks during a smallest gradation number if distances between the adjacent dot blocks decrease to a predetermined value or less along with growth of the dot blocks, to form a void halftone dot image.

Abstract: A computational halftoning process determines a halftoned image having halftoned pixel values by processing an array of input pixels. For each input pixel, an array of high-resolution printer coordinates is defined at a higher spatial resolution than the printer resolution, and a coordinate transformation is applied to determine a corresponding array of high-resolution dot coordinates. An array of high-resolution halftoned pixel values is then determined responsive to the code value of the input pixel by addressing a halftone dot function using the array of high-resolution dot coordinates. A halftoned pixel value is then determined by averaging the high-resolution halftoned pixel values.

Abstract: A method is provided for enhancing a grayscale raster image comprising pixels. The method comprises the steps of composing a second raster image of equal dimensions to said raster image, selecting a target pixel in the second raster image, having a target position, and deriving a grayscale value for the target pixel from a grayscale value of a pixel in said raster image that is in a neighborhood of a pixel on a position corresponding to the target position, thereby dispersing the gray value of a pixel in a predetermined range around its original position and working the second raster image up for a halftoning process without using pixel segmentation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a pseudo-halftone processing unit that processes input image data to output image data of first resolution; a resolution converting unit that converts the image data of the first resolution into image data of second resolution that is higher than the first resolution; a modulation-signal generating unit that generates a modulation signal obtained by modulating the image data of the second resolution according to a clock signal; and a light-source driving unit that drives a light source according to the modulation signal. The pseudo-halftone processing unit converts a region of pixels having the same pixel value into a parallel line pattern that is formed with a plurality of parallel lines oblique relative to a direction of arrangement of pixels. The resolution converting unit generates the image data o in which each edge of the lines forming the parallel line pattern is smoothed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for forming an image with a plurality of recording element arrays, grouped together on a plurality of recording heads, on a same area of a recording medium. The image processing apparatus sets recording data of each of the recording element arrays from input image data, and a halftone processing unit generates halftone image data to be recorded by each of the recording element arrays by performing halftone processing on the recording data of each of the recording element arrays, which is set by the setting unit. Halftone image data pieces corresponding to at least a pair of recording element arrays located on a same recording head are in phase with each other in a wider frequency band than halftone image data pieces corresponding to at least a pair of recording element arrays located on different recording heads.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a controller. The controller specifies an edge pixel based on image data, and sets a target pixel and a reference pixel from among a plurality of pixels. The target pixel is located between the edge pixel and the reference pixel. The controller determines whether a determination condition is satisfied for the target pixel. The determination condition indicates that a pixel value of the edge pixel, a pixel value of the target pixel, and a pixel value of the reference pixel monotonically increase in said order. The controller sets a binary value of the target pixel to a first value without using a dither matrix when the determination condition is satisfied, and sets the binary value of the target pixel to one of the first value and a second value by using the dither matrix when the determination condition is not satisfied.

Abstract: When an automatic clearing function for resetting is executed in the case of no operation for a certain period of time, without occurrence of automatic clearing complicatedly and by executing automatic clearing appropriately, it is enabled to satisfy both improvement of usability by a user and convenience by automatic clearing. A control portion, when setting for a plurality of setting items is performed in accordance with operation input to the operation portion, measures time during which operation input to performing setting is not performed for each of the plurality of setting items, and executes automatic clearing to reset setting based on the measured time. When performing resetting for a setting item for which automatic clearing is executed during setting by a user, the time until executing automatic clearing is then extended.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport guide member, and a detection mechanism. The transport guide member guides a recording medium. The detection mechanism detects presence or absence of the recording medium. An actuator portion of the detection mechanism includes a shaft portion and a detection portion configured to swing about the shaft portion when abutting the recording medium. A first guide rib of the transport guide member is provided with a notch portion through which the shaft portion penetrates. The shaft portion is provided with a second guide rib configured to close an opening of the notch portion viewed from an axis direction of the shaft portion.

Abstract: A vector image drawing device has the following configuration. A contour generation unit (104), based on vector data, generates contour data that represents the starting pixels on a scan line in a drawing area where fill-in starts, and the ending pixels where fill-in ends. An outline buffer (106) stores the number of starting or ending pixels in the contour data for fill-in for each drawn pixel. An error judgment unit (2), when storing the contour data in the outline buffer (106), determines in which pixel there is overflow in the outline buffer of contour data. A pixel position transfer unit (3) adds the numerical value of the overflow portion of a pixel that the error judgment unit (2) determined to have overflow to the numerical value of contour data that corresponds to a pixel.

Abstract: A method detects the floating amount of an original from an original table based on image information read by an image reading apparatus having the original table on which the original is placed, a line sensor, and a lens array arranged in a direction of arrangement of pixels of the line sensor. The method includes obtaining image information of the original as line image information by performing scanning in the direction of arrangement of pixels of the line sensor, extracting a distinguishing portion from the line image information, detecting a characteristic frequency by frequency analysis of image information of the distinguishing portion, and determining the floating amount of the original from the characteristic frequency.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus of the present disclosure includes: a step detecting unit which detects a first step pixel and a second step pixel in the binary image and step directions of the first step pixel and the second step pixel; and an enlargement processing unit which inverts pixel values of pixels from the first pixel value to the second pixel value in a pixel area corresponding to the first step pixel in the enlarged image, and inverts pixel values of pixels from the second pixel value to the first pixel value in a pixel area corresponding to the second step pixel. The pixels of which pixel values are inverted are located at positions corresponding to its step direction. The number of the pixels of which pixel values are inverted corresponds to its step length in the binary image.

Abstract: A logic module is to identify whether to print a standard printout or an erasable printout. A print module is to print the erasable printout in response to the identifying by the logic module. The erasable printout includes an erasable feature not present in the standard printout.

Abstract: A method for image processing executed by an image processing apparatus includes sequentially receiving PDL data and transferring a figure included in the PDL data to processing in a subsequent stage, assigning edge extraction processing as a unit of processing for extracting edge information for each transferred figure, merging the edge information extracted from each figure, spooling the merged data in a tile format as intermediate data, and reading out the intermediate data in the tile format from spooling process and performing processing on each tile to generate a pixel from the intermediate data.

Abstract: A system and method converts pixels of continuous image data to pixels of binary image data using a halftone screen corresponding to a predetermined reduced coverage percentage; determines if a target pixel of binary image data is a non-white pixel; compares a window of pixels of binary image data with a predetermined pattern of pixels of binary image data corresponding to the predetermined reduced coverage percentage; determines that the target pixel is a non-edge pixel; and reduces the number of non-white pixels in the binary image data based upon the determination that the target pixel is a non-edge pixel.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus causes a printing executing section to perform a printing process using color-materials, the image processing apparatus includes: a first processing unit that performs a first image-processing by processing original image data in order to generate first processed image data; and a supplying unit, wherein the first processing unit includes: a calculating unit that calculates an index value relating an edge-intensity about a target pixel in object image data; and a correcting unit that corrects a value of the target pixel based on the index value of the edge-intensity, wherein the correcting unit corrects the value of the target pixel such that print-density of the target pixel increase if the target pixel is a first pixel, and wherein the correcting unit corrects the value of the target pixel such that print-density of the target pixel decrease if the target pixel is a second pixel.

Abstract: Methods of image enhancement are disclosed. In one aspect, the method of image enhancement is for use with an image capture device, such as a security document reader, for the attenuation, separation or reduction of reflections from objects, such as security documents.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a dither processing device that applies dither processing to input image data to express halftone using line screens by increasing an area rate of the input image data and a controller that decreases the number of line screens and maintains a prescribed dropout width between the neighboring line screens when the area rate of the input image data increases and the dropout width falls below a prescribed level.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an edge-portion detector, an edge-width detector, and a tone correction unit. The edge-portion detector detects a pixel of an edge portion by determining whether or not each of pixels constituting image data which has been input is a pixel which is included in the edge portion. The edge-width detector detects, for the pixel of the edge portion detected by the edge-portion detector, an edge width which is a width of the edge portion. When the edge width detected by the edge-width detector is smaller than a value which is set in advance, the tone correction unit performs tone correction differently in accordance with the detected edge width.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprises a resolution converting unit configured to convert a high-resolution image data into a low-resolution image data, an edge judgment unit configured to judge a shape of an edge in the high-resolution image data, and a density correcting unit configured to make a density correction in the low-resolution image data in accordance with the shape of the edge judged by the edge judgment unit.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for dynamic sharpness control in system using binary to continuous tone conversion. Image data can be processed in the image path of a copier, printer, or other device to enhance sharpness based on user settings. The image can originate in a high-resolution and/or high-color format. The user can select sharpness values to provide better rendered detail. A front-end high-pass 2D filter can be adjusted in response to the settings. A binarized version of the image data is produced in the downstream path. At the back of the image path, the image would conventionally be sent through a binary data to extended contone (BDEC) low-pass filter, set to a fixed level, to produce contone output, counteracting the user's sharpness settings. Instead of applying a fixed back-end filter, that stage can be dynamically adjusted to correspond to the user's sharpness settings, reducing the low-pass effect proportionately.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing device for comparing a determination value adjusted by comparing the gradation values of pixels included in inputted image data and threshold values of a dither mask prepared in advance, and a corrected gradation value obtained by correcting the gradation value of the pixel by the diffusion error from an adjacent processed pixel; adjusting a determination value; generating dot data which indicate the presence or absence of the dot formation by applying error diffusion; and reducing the width of the adjustment of the determination value used in determining the dot formation so that the width of the adjustment is smaller in comparison with non-edge pixels in the case that a pixel is determined to be an edge pixel for which the difference in gradation value in relation to an adjacent pixel is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A system for halftone processing is provided. The system includes a programmable halftone segmentation system having one or more programmable parameters to accommodate different input image parameters, such as different printer or scanner parameters, and configured to generate output control data as a function of image input data. A programmable output processor receives the output control data and the image input data and generates image output data that compensates for halftone regions in the image input data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus detects an edge from image data and generates edge data indicating a result of the detection, obtains a variance value of the generated edge data, and determines that the image data is data with print information when the obtained variance of the edge data is equal to or larger than a threshold and determines that the image data is data without print information when the variance is smaller than the threshold value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a reception unit which receives an electronic document, a generation unit which generates a display list containing edge information indicating the outline of an object contained in the received electronic document, fill information for controlling whether to fill in the inside of the outline of the object, and control information for controlling image formation of each page that forms the electronic document, an edge position extraction unit which obtains the intersections of the object and the line based on the edge information, and extracts the positions of the edges of the object on the line, and a setting unit which sets, based on the data amount of extracted edges and the data amount of edges in the page that is predicted by analyzing the control information, a threshold for controlling extraction of the edges to fall within a predetermined data amount.

Abstract: In a job management system, a PC includes a job reception section for receiving setting of a job from a user and a job transmitting section for transmitting the job to a multifunction peripheral. The multifunction peripheral includes a job receiving section for receiving a job from the PC, a prohibition determining section for determining whether a combination of functions constituting the job is a target of a prohibition process, a controlling section for executing the job, and a prohibition information transmitting section for transmitting prohibition information indicating that the combination of functions constituting the job is the target of the prohibition process to the PC when the combination of functions is the target of the prohibition process. The PC further includes a prohibition information receiving section for receiving the prohibition information from the multifunction peripheral and a prohibition information storage for storing the prohibition information.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a skew correcting unit that performs skew correction by dividing an input image that has undergone a halftone process into image data in a predetermined skew correction area in a main scanning direction and by shifting the image data in the skew correction area in a sub-scanning direction; an edge detecting unit that detects whether a pixel at a division position is an edge pixel based on concentrations of a set of pixels including the pixel at the division position; a correction area determining unit that, if detected that the pixel at the division position is the edge pixel, determines a correction area that is an area of pixels including the edge pixel to be subjected to concentration correction within the skew correction area; and an edge correcting unit that corrects concentrations of the pixels within the correction area.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and image processing method perform adaptive correction at edges of an image to be printed in accordance with the conditions of output equipment outputting an image to be printed. The image processing apparatus includes: a printed sample generating component for generating a printed sample having a plurality of gray scale regions for correcting gray scale at edges of the image to be printed; a gray scale region selecting component for selecting from the printed sample generated by the printed sample generating component a gray scale region for realizing visually uniform gray scale at the edges; and an edge image correcting component for correcting edge regions of the image to be printed in accordance with a gray level of the gray scale region selected by the gray scale region selecting component.

Abstract: This presents an image processing apparatus and an image processing method which print and output image data subjected to halftone processing with an appropriate density characteristic. The image processing apparatus generates a halftone image from a multi-value image using a threshold value arrangement, and generates a difference image between the generated halftone image and a second halftone image having the density characteristic different from that of the generated halftone image. The image processing apparatus stores the generated halftone image and the generated difference image.

Abstract: A method for forming an image comprising a first halftone image having a first screen angle and a second halftone image having a second screen angle. A recording head forms a plurality of image swaths. Each swath is merged with another swath at a merge line. A row of cells in the first halftone image is selected and a first sub-scan pitch of the cells in the row cells is determined. A first sub-scan spacing between two adjacent merge lines in the first group of swaths is equal to an integer multiple of a first sub-scan pitch. A row of cells in the second halftone image is selected and a second sub-scan pitch of the second cells in the row of second unit cells is determined. The recording head is reconfigured by disabling at least one of the recording channels forms the second halftone image.

Abstract: A data processing module for generating dithered data includes a data transforming unit and a dithering unit, wherein the data transforming unit is utilized to transform input data into transformed data containing predetermined data, and the dithering unit is utilized to perform a dithering process on the transformed data to generate the dithered data. By making the display picture of the dithered data contain a fixed pattern corresponding to the predetermined data, the influence on the display picture caused by noise existing in the input data can be efficiently reduced.

Abstract: A method for interpolation includes receiving an input image having a plurality of pixels. The edge direction proximate a first pixel of the input image is estimated using a first technique from a plurality of discrete potential directions. An edge direction is selected based upon the estimating the edge direction proximate the first pixel of the input image using a second technique. The pixels proximate the first pixel are interpolated based upon the selected edge direction. The pixels proximate the first pixel are interpolated based upon another technique. An output image is determined.

Abstract: A system and method for managing production printing workflow is disclosed. The system includes workflow management software which manages and facilitates the procedural stages of the workflow including job origination, job preparation, job submission and job fulfillment. The workflow management software provides an integrated object oriented interface which visually reflects and interacts with the workflow. The software further provides functionality to create, manage and manipulate compound documents as ordered collections of documents.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing an image are provided that can suppress blur edges at an edge portion of a character so that sharpness and quality of the image can be improved. The apparatus comprises an inside and outside edge discrimination portion for discriminating whether a target pixel to be processed belongs to an inside edge or to an outside edge, a threshold value generating portion for selecting a threshold value from plural threshold values for error diffusion process in accordance with an area discriminated by the inside and outside edge discrimination portion to output the selected threshold value and an error diffusion process portion for performing the error diffusion process for multilevel input data concerning the target pixel by utilizing the threshold value generated by the threshold value generating portion so as to produce output data whose gradation steps are reduced.

Abstract: An image printing system which determines dot forming condition when printing an image containing a plurality of pixels by using dots of a plurality of sizes includes: a fine drawing detecting unit which detects a dot color fine drawing pixel having a dot color used for printing the image and positioned on a fine drawing portion having a drawing width equal to or smaller than a predetermined value; an edge area detecting unit which detects a dot color edge area pixel having a dot color used for printing the image and positioned at a distance equal to or shorter than a predetermined value from an edge of the image; a first dot allocating unit which allocates dots such that a dot of predetermined size in the dots of the plural sizes can be formed for the dot color fine drawing pixel during printing the image; and a second dot allocating unit which allocates dots such that a dot of a size determined according to the distance from the edge of the image in the dots of the plural sizes can be formed for the dot col

Abstract: An error diffusion process section performs an error diffusion process on a pixel value of each of processing object pixels and outputs the processed pixel value to an output selection section. A blue noise mask process performs a blue noise mask process on a pixel value of each of processing object pixels and outputs the processed pixel value to the output selection section. The output selection section selects and outputs the pixel value outputted from the error diffusion process section when a segmentation class signal indicates a character (text) area or a halftone dot area, namely an edge area, and selects and outputs the pixel value outputted from the blue noise mask process section when a segmentation class signal indicates an area other than the character area or the halftone dot area, namely non-edge area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device that, in printing of controlling the amount of color materials applied, changes a screen ruling for image formation according to the relationship between luminance and saturation. A first component obtains color component data of a plurality of colors so that the total amount of controlled variable in each pixel does not exceed a first limit amount. A second component obtains color component data of a plurality of colors so that the total amount of controlled variable in each pixel does not exceed a second limit amount by performing color conversion processing different from the color conversion processing with the first component. A third component performs pseudo halftone processing by changing a screen ruling to be applied to the color component data of a plurality of colors obtained by the color conversion processing with the second component from chromaticity of color image data.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for color trapping on halftoned bi-level bitmaps. Color edges are detected and edge pixels that need to be trapped are identified. The number of pixels qualified as edge pixels eligible for color trapping can be up to a pre-determined number of pixels away from the color edge. Estimates for the continuous-tone values are obtained for the dominant colors on each side of the two-color edge. The contone value of the dominant color on the opposing side of the two-color edge is assigned to the qualified edge pixels. Qualified edge pixels are re-halftoned using their assigned contone value so that halftones for one color are extended beyond the edge into the other color. The re-halftoned edge pixels are combined with the original bitmap to produce a new bitmap for the image. The new bitmap is then provided to an image output device.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method to revise a halftoned image and an image forming apparatus using the same. The apparatus includes an area dividing unit to detect a boundary edge area of an image, a halftoning unit to convert the image to a halftoned image, and a dot rearranging unit to rearrange dots of the boundary area to sharpen the boundary area.

Abstract: A neighboring vector, which is a boundary portion between two overlapping objects, is extracted. To calculate luminance levels of the objects on both sides of the neighboring vector, a predetermined number of coordinate points (sample points) in the vicinity of the neighboring vector are extracted at least from the image side. A rendering process is performed on an area including all the extracted sample points to acquire color values at the sample points. The luminance level of the image is calculated based on the acquired color values, and the luminance levels of the objects on both sides of the neighboring vector are compared to each other to determine the position (direction) in which to generate a trap graphic.

Abstract: In a method/device for preparing a print data stream for generation of print images with at least two primary colors, the print data contained in an input print data stream are supplied to a processing stage as input print data. The input print data are processed with the processing stage wherein at least one raster image of a first primary color is generated. Trapping information is generated by use of the raster image. An output print data stream is generated that has the trapping information in addition to print data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus provides enhancement of image quality. The image forming apparatus includes a window generating unit to generate a main window of a predetermined size using a Lines Per Inch (LPI) and an angle of a dithering mask, and to generate a plurality of subwindows within the generated main window, a determining unit to determine the presence of an edge area by applying the plurality of generated subwindows to a binary image and according to pixel values of the binary image that correspond to the subwindows, and a control unit to determine a dot size of a central reference pixel at the center of the main window, according to the presence and absence of the edge area. Because image quality is enhanced adaptively according to edge and smooth areas, print quality improves.

Abstract: A neighboring vector, which is a boundary portion between two overlapping objects, is extracted. To calculate luminance levels of the objects on both sides of the neighboring vector, a predetermined number of coordinate points (sample points) in the vicinity of the neighboring vector are extracted at least from the image side. A rendering process is performed on an area including all the extracted sample points to acquire color values at the sample points. The luminance level of the image is calculated based on the acquired color values, and the luminance levels of the objects on both sides of the neighboring vector are compared to each other to determine the position (direction) in which to generate a trap graphic.