Abstract: The number of lines per page and the maximum number of characters per line defined by image data supplied from a host apparatus or the like are determined. On the basis of the number of lines per page and the maximum number of characters per line, it is determined whether image data will be formed in a non-printing area of a cut sheet of paper. If it is determined that the image data is formed in the non-printing area of the cut sheet of paper, the line and character pitches of the image data are changed into smaller pitches so that the image is printed in an printing area of the cut sheet of paper. The image data is printed in the printing area of the cut sheet of paper in accordance with the changed line and character pitches.

Abstract: An image reducing apparatus includes a black-pixel counting section for counting a number of black pixels in an N.times.M-pixel area in an original image represented by white and black levels, where N and M denote predetermined integers equal to or greater than 2; a pattern comparing section for comparing a pixel pattern in the N.times.M-pixel area and an area surrounding the N.times.M-pixel area with predetermined reference patterns; and a level determining section for determining a level of a pixel in a reduction-resultant image in accordance with the black-pixel number counted by the black-pixel counting section and with a result of the pattern comparison by the pattern comparing section, the reduction-resultant image pixel corresponding to the N.times.M-pixel area in the original image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus divides an original image into multiple areas depending on the magnification of copy and produces enlarged copies of the divided areas on sheets of copy paper sequentially, thereby obtaining a enlarged copy of the original larger than the paper size. For each divided area, copy paper of a smallest possible size necessary to copy the entirety of the divided area is selected. The original can be divided optimally based on the original size, copy paper size and magnification, or can be divided by excluding a specified region from the original.

Abstract: A picture element conversion system consists of a simple electric circuit for reducing or enlarging an image at high quality. The system includes a cumulative adding unit for cumulatively adding a multiplying factor, in synchronization with clock signals, and outputting the added data and a carry signal. A contiguous picture element output unit temporarily holds a picture element data array along one of two scanning directions and outputs at least two contiguous picture element data. A typical value calculation unit divides a section defined by the contiguous picture element data into sub-sections and obtains typical values corresponding to each sub-section from the picture element data output from the contiguous picture element output unit.

Abstract: An image reducing apparatus for obtaining a reduced image from an image of an original size has: a filter to execute a filtering process to the image of the original size every image block of a predetermined size; a discriminating circuit to discriminate a structure of the image block filter processed by the filter; a correcting circuit to correct an output of the filter in accordance with the discriminated structure; and a binarization unit to binarize the output of the filter. By executing the reduction suitable for the image content in consideration of the peripheral images of the object pixel to be reduced and the peripheral reduced images, a reduced image can be obtained without extinguishing the content of the image of the original size, and especially, without fading or losing the thin lines in the reduced image.

Abstract: Color outputting method and apparatus are disclosed. A size of character to be generated is discriminated. Ratios of coloring materials constructing the color to be generated are corrected when the size of character is smaller than a predetermined value. When the coloring materials are corrected, the ratio of the coloring material of the highest ratio is set into 100% and the ratios of the other coloring materials are increased by only the same value as the highest ratio. Thus, a permanent visible color image can be formed at any size and in any color.

Abstract: A facsimile apparatus according to the present invention handles a record paper having a predetermined length (for example, the A4 size) in size in a sub-scanning direction and has a function of reducing a received picture to a preset size. When a line number of a received picture is smaller than an effective print line number of a record sheet, even if a size is set in advance for reduction, the received picture is printed on a record sheet without being reduced.

Abstract: A method for converting a set of input image pixels having a first resolution and being represented by a set of input image signals to a set of output image pixels having a second resolution and being represented by a set of output image signals. The method is adapted for use in an electroreprographic machine having a memory for storing images and an image output terminal for printing the images.

Abstract: An image reading and recording apparatus such as an electronic blackboard includes a reading unit movable along a guide rail for reading information written on a board, a drive motor integral with the reading unit and operative to move the reading unit relative to the board, and a power transmission mechanism for transmitting a driving force of the drive motor to the reading unit so as to move the reading unit relatively to the board. The power transmission mechanism is composed of a pulley fixed to a drive shaft of the motor and a wire rope extending along the guide rail in a stretched condition and wound around the pulley by one turn. Upon rotation of the motor, the pulley rolls on and along the wire rope, thereby moving the reading unit relative to the board. Due to a large contact area provided between the pulley and the wire rope, the movement of the reading unit is highly reliable and hence the information on the board can be read with high accuracy.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of contracting or enlarging an original image includes a variable scale magnification processing unit for magnifying the original image in accordance with a magnification m, and a digital filter for correcting an image quality. Since weighting matrixes h1-h5 of the digital filter are varied depending on magnification m, a deterioration in image quality can be prevented irrespectively of magnifications.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method that performs resolution conversion by averaging the pixel data produced by a sensor. The averaging operation includes storing 400 dots per inch (dpi) pixel data in alternating latches 94 and 96, adding the contents of the alternate latches using an adder 98 and dividing by two by transferring the carry and the most significant bits of the addition result to the next stage, thereby accomplishing a shift by right. The averaging includes an average of two adjacent pixels for a 200 dpi output, an average of four adjacent pixels for the 100 dpi output and a rolling average of two pixels for the 300 dpi output, where the rolling average has a repeat cycle of four pixels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of designing a Kaiser window filter. The filter is applied to an input image to generate a resized output image while preserving the information content of the input image. The method of mapping the output image space to the input image space of the present invention aligns the boundaries of the input image space with the boundaries of a set of new input pixels, and the coordinate points of the output pixels map to corresponding coordinate points of the new input pixels.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is disclosed which inputs/outputs an image in which image data items having different quantities of information for each pixel are mixed with one another. The information quantity for each of the image data items and information about the I/O positions are stored in a corresponding manner. When data is input, data is converted into the proper information quantities in accordance with input position, for storage. When data is output, the stored image data is converted into output data in accordance with the respective information quantities. As a result, the memory capacity can be reduced, the flexibility can be improved at the time of use and the memory can be used efficiently.

Abstract: A system for publishing a yearbook including scanning circuitry for generating digital images from photographs. Imaging processing circuitry for processing the digital images, storage circuitry coupled to the image processing circuitry for storing the processed digital images and publishing circuitry for generating text, graphics. Page layouts define regions where the processed digital images are to be placed prior to receiving the photographs and for retrieving the stored digital images and placing the image responsive to the page layouts.

Abstract: A picture element data density conversion apparatus, enabling arbitrary amounts of data density reduction to be independently selected for the horizontal (i.e. main) and vertical (i.e. secondary) scanning directions of a picture field, executes processing along a continuous path in which horizontally successive input values along each line of the field are first periodically selected and horizontal weighted averaging between specific pairs of these selected values is executed, then periodic selection of successive lines of the horizontal weighted average values thus obtained is executed, and vertical weighting averaging between vertically corresponding pairs of values in the selected line pairs is performed, to obtain density-reduced output data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a reading part for optically reading an image from an original image on a recording medium; a conversion part for converting the read-out image into a digital image; a first storage part for storing the digital image; an input part for inputting an instruction and a password number; an encoding part for transforming the digital image to an encoded image when an encoding process for the digital image is selected according to the instruction; a decoding part for transforming the digital image to a decoded image when a decording process for the digital image is selected according to the instruction, a second storage part for storing the encoded image in accordance with a memory address determined based on the password number when the encoding process is selected, and for storing the decoded image in accordance with the memory address determined based on the password number when the decoding process is selected, and an output part for outputting either the encoded image or

Abstract: Disclosed is a pictorial image compression device comprising an A/D converter converting an analog image input signal into digital image data, a clock dropout circuit producing a dropout indication signal and a partly dropped-out clock on the basis of a write clock and data of a selected compression rate, an averaging circuit averaging the image data according to the partly dropped-out write clock, a memory successively storing the image output data from the averaging circuit in response to the partly dropped-out write clock, a reading circuit reading out the image data stored in the memory, and a D/A converter converting the image data read out by the reading circuit into an analog signal, so that images can be continuously compressed without highlighting undesirable discontinuity at the edge of each image. Thus, the device can continuously compress image data in spite of its simple circuit structure.

Abstract: A method for converting binary image data originally generated at a lower resolution into representative binary image data of a higher resolution, wherein the conversion ratio, or magnification factor, is an integer value. Also included are methods for smoothing the interpolated output image and thereby reducing objectionable visual characteristics observable in digitally encoded data using conventional magnification techniques.

Abstract: A color image processing apparatus comprises a printer for printing an image corresponding to an original image scanned by an scanner. An image memory is provided into which signals from the color scanner respectively corresponding to plural colors are written and from which signals to be transmitted to the printer are read. The image memory is arranged such that a signal for a writing operation and a signal for a reading operation are substantially simultaneously input. A memory control unit addresses the image memory in either the writing operation or the reading operation. The memory control unit comprises a writing address counter, a reading address counter and a control means. The control means controls the writing address counter and the reading address counter such that image data is read from the image memory before the writing of the image data into the memory is completed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of magnifying a target image to any desired magnification, includes functions for detecting the maximum and minimum densities from limited image information, including a data piece representing a picture element of the target image, functions for determining from the difference between the maximum and minimum densities detected by the detection means, whether the picture element is in a photographic region or a character region, functions for determining a picture element density appropriate for magnifying the target image from the density of the target picture element and that of a picture element close to the target picture element, and functions for outputting the picture element density determined by the density-determining means, in accordance with whether the target picture element is in a photographic region or a character region.

Abstract: An image processor in which input image data is sampled at a sampling circuit at a constant rate corresponding to P times the rate of the input image data and then subjected at a decimating circuit 14 to a decimating/reducing operation with a magnification of 1/Q to obtain image data having a magnification of P/Q in a horizontal scanning direction. An original-document reading motor is controlled under a scanner controller so that a relative moving speed between an image and a CCD is set to be lower than an ordinary moving rate. Under this condition, the image is repetitively read a plurality of times with respect to an identical line and then subjected at a line decimating circuit to a decimating/reducing operation on every line basis to obtain a resultant image having a desired magnification in a vertical scanning direction.

Abstract: In a facsimile apparatus, a received image data is stored in a memory, and an image represented by the image data is enlarged according to an enlargement ratio determined by the user and is outputted onto recording paper. The image data stored in the memory is maintained until another image data is received.

Abstract: An image reduction system which reduces binary level images is disclosed. In the system, a reduction pixel value is determined by using, as reference pixels for a filter operation: a plurality of surrounding pixels including an object pixel to be reduced; and reduced pixels, from among pixels which have already been reduced, said reduced pixels being at least; a reduced pixel located before the pixel to be determined: a reduced pixel, located on the preceding line, which lies directly above the pixel to be determined; and a reduced pixel before said reduced pixel located on the preceding line. When a pixel referenced during the filter operation is included in a specific pattern, an exception process for correcting binary level results is provided.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of mapping raster data input of a source data set to a destination data set, wherein the source and destination data sets have different resolutions. Initially, a resolution ratio is determined between the source data set and the destination data set. The horizontal component of the source data set is converted to the resolution of the destination data set by copying select discrete groups of the source data to form a desired number of discrete groups of the destination data. A select number of vertical, or raster, rows of the horizontally converted data set are copied to form a required number of rows, thereby completing the destination data set. Look-up tables are provided to efficiently convert the horizontal component of the source data set. An apparatus for mapping raster data input includes a computation mechanism for determining the resolution ratio, and mechanisms for converting the horizontal and vertical components of the source data set into the destination data set.

Abstract: An electronic printing system with a touchscreen for programming print jobs using job tickets displayed on the screen, the job tickets having various job programming choices together with scaled representations of the print image superimposed on the print media selected, and a control for comparing the size of the print image as originally oriented with the maximum image size and displaying a fault message on the screen in the event that the print image size exceeds the system maximum image size even though the print image as displayed fits into the print media.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus has an original read unit for reading an image on an original document by a prescan and a copy scan, an image data processing unit for converting original image signals into digital image data signals and for processing the digital image data signals, and an output unit for outputting processed image data. The image processing apparatus further comprises an original detecting unit (3) for reading coordinates data on the original in a prescan mode, and enlargement/reduction processing units (2, 4 to 9) which store the image data read in a copy scan mode into a memory, execute the enlargement/reduction in accordance with the stored image data, whereby the enlargement/reduction processing units (2, 4 to 9) carry out the frame-erasure process by using the original coordinates data.

Abstract: A bitmap to be prepared for printing by a printing process with a characteristic dilation or erosion artifact, is initially increased in resolution by a selected factor. The bitmapped image is then increased or decreased in size, at the increased resolution, by an amount necessary to compensate for the characteristic erosion or dilation of the printing process. The bitmap is rescanned, or reduced in resolution, to the original resolution of the image. The rescanned image is highly binary in appearance, but will include a number of gray level pixels in areas where it has been increased in size. Prior to printing, the pixel values are subjected to a quantizing process where gray level pixel values are reduced to binary values, preferably through an error diffusion process which operates only on gray pixels. The process of increasing the bitmap resolution may include a step of smoothing halfbitting.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus reading images by relatively moving linear CCDs in a subscanning direction on the original images includes a clock generation circuit for generating first and second clock signals having different pulse numbers per unit time, and first and second image memories alternately writing line by line the read image data, one of which carries out writing operation while the other carries out reading operation of the written image data. Writing address of the first and second image memory is designated by a first clock signal, and a reading address of the first and second image memory is designated by a second clock signal. When the image data is stored with low frequency clock signal and the image data are read in accordance with a high frequency clock signal, a reduced image can be formed.

Abstract: A magnification changing system for a copier. When any one of a document longitudinal key, a document lateral key, a copy longitudinal key and a copy lateral key is pressed, all the data associated with that key are displayed so that an operator is clearly informed of whether or not the entry of particular data is requested.

Abstract: Compression expansion processor apparatus and method is provided for document image processing. The apparatus creates a virtual 1:1 image stream within, and represents this stream logically as a series of run length codes instead of physically as a fully decoded bit stream. The apparatus and method directly compute the required output bit streams from this internal run length representation. The time wasted generating and discarding clipped pixels is eliminated. An input parsing function does not have to recompute the previous line's run lengths. Individual color run lengths are retained through-out the clipping and scaling processes, making gray level correction techniques easier to apply.

Abstract: A half tone image processing circuit in which samples of an image signal are compared with elements of a dither matrix to generate a binary image signal, and including a scale reduction circuit for canceling predetermined bits from the binary image signal to effect a reduction in size of an image produced in accordance with the binary image signal. A dither generation circuit sequentially outputs the dither elements in response to a clock signal. During scale reduction, the incrementing of the dither generation circuit is halted when samples are received that correspond to the bits to be canceled, so as to avoid picture quality degradation by maintaining continuity of the dither generation pattern.

Abstract: A pixel density conversion apparatus of this invention uses linear interpolation in pixel density conversion. Image deterioration caused by the pixel density conversion is suppressed by adding a converted pixel to the position of a non-converted pixel upon execution of equal-magnification processing, and by overlapping a first converted pixel to the midpoint position between the position of a first non-converted pixel and the position of a pixel adjacent thereto.

Abstract: An image processing system with improved copy outputting efficiency comprising a user interface for forming a copy job, an image output terminal for outputting a hard copy of an image, an image input terminal for reading an original to output digital image data having a predetermined number of bits, a control unit for collectively controlling the operation of the system, a storage unit including a page memory and a hard disk, and a rotating unit for rotating an image by 90.degree..

Abstract: Disclosed is a system that accepts data, either from a facsimile scanner or from a computer file, and allows the data to be printed before being sent to a remote facsimile device. The system reads the data, converts the data to a bit mapped raster image if necessary, and prints the data locally before it is sent to the remote facsimile receiving device. The local print resolution for printing the data is selectable, and the system will convert the data into a form suitable for printing that resolution on the local printer. If the local printer can print at a higher resolution, the data is scaled to allow the printing to appear at the desired facsimile resolution to allow the user to evaluate the quality of the data prior to the data being sent.

Abstract: An image processing system for altering the size of an image represented by a plurality of input video signals including a controller for producing a scale factor and a scale factor valid signal. The controller also includes a padder which is used to increase the accuracy of the scale factor during the operation of the controller. The signals generated by the controller are passed to an interpolator suitable for producing an output signal as a function of one or more of the input video signals in response to the scale factor and scale factor valid signal.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for processing a provided image signal includes a processor for processing the provided image signal in accordance with a classification between a valid image portion and non-valid image portion of the provided image signal.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is disclosed in which image information read by image information read-out means is reduced by reducing encoding means and simultaneously compressed by compressing means to be displayed as an image, or encoded image information is decoded by decoding means to be stored in a memory and simultaneously is reduced by reducing means to be displayed as an image, thus the apparatus can implement rapid processings, and reducing circuit for image information which reduces image information in the main scanning direction and makes storage means store reduced image information sequentially and simultaneously further reduces this reduced image information in the subscanning direction.

Abstract: In a folding-order image forming apparatus, image data provided by reading an original image are stored to a page memory. When a copy is made in an electrostatic photographic process in accordance with the image data, the read image data are processed to divide the original image into a plurality of divisional images. Required images with respect to the divisional images are rotated, rearranged and outputted by the operation of a page memory control circuit in accordance with a divisional number of a recording image, etc. Thus, the images are formed in an opening shape by folding or cutting a sheet of recording paper along a divisional boundary of images thereon.

Abstract: An image processing system characterized by recognizing a document area and binarizing an image data read from a document based on an image data read from the recognized document area.

Abstract: A color original such as a color reversal film and the like which may be different size (for example, the Brownie, 4".times.5", 35 mm) is fitted or stored in the original cassette mounted on the cassette base. The original is read to obtain a whole image data by a transmission type or a reflection type image sensor without catching any flare, and an auxiliary scanning is done sequentially on lines of the original, reading the whole surface thereof, so as to output directly the plates of C,M,Y and black (K). Because of the procedure described above the operation to produce the plates is easily done at a high speed by even an unskilled operator. The operation for scanning the original image comprises the steps of scanning (pre-scanning) the original image in rough, and then scanning (main scanning) it in detail. The original image is displayed in accordance with data of the pre-scanning and the data of the pre-scanning is stored in a memory.

Abstract: An image recording device of an optical beam scanning type comprising at least one variable frequency generating source which can arbitrarily change the recording density in the main-scanning direction and/or the recording density in the sub-scanning direction for recording an image with an arbitrary dimension without information on the original image.

Abstract: In an image input scanner, image information is acquired by sensing light from an image at an array of photosites arranged across a path of relative movement of the array and the image. To obtain resolution k, given a nominal slow scan velocity v for the relative movement between the array and the image, slow scan velocity is varied continuously over a range of 1/2 v to v. In combination, with variation of slow scan velocity over the range of 1/2 v to v, a limited scan line throw away scheme is matched to the range of velocity, where the ratio of lines kept to lines discarded in a group of lines is defined by the ratio 1:N where for every N lines, a pattern is repeated which passes 1 line of N lines, where N is a positive integer.

Abstract: A zoom lens magnification control mechanism for a photoprint digitizing scanner contains an adjustable focus, zoom lens. The photoprint image projection path is incident upon a high resolution CCD sensor, image output signals from which are digitized for storage on a compact disc. Control of the operation of the scanner includes the use of a display device to which output signals provided by the photosensor are coupled so as to display the projected image. Whenever a photoprint is presented to the scanner an indication of the size of the photoprint is provided, as by way of a code stored on a photoprint platen, in order to set the magnification setting of the zoom lens. The photofinisher observes the display of the image projected on the photosensor and adjusts, as necessary, the operation of the zoom lens so that the image displayed by the display device fits the display screen.

Abstract: The size of a digitally-stored image is modified as desired by expanding the source image data and adjusting the input to the output raster display device accordingly.

Abstract: A magnifying display apparatus for displaying enlarged images of characters or the like comprises a photoelectric-converting reading unit including a body and an optical system disposed in the body and having a light-path inversion prism, a magnifier lens system, an iris, an imaging device and illuminating lamp. The apparatus further comprises a controller connected to the reading unit and including a power supply circuit for the reading unit and also a control circuit for controlling the conversion of the output from the imaging device into an image output. The apparatus also comprises a display unit such as a television separably connected to the controller. A recess or a protrusion is formed on a front upper portion of the body at a position corresponding to the light-path inverting prism so as to be sensible by a user's finger, thus serving as an index of the portion of the original to be magnified and displayed.

Abstract: An electronic reprographic printing system for printing on output sheets of a print job, wherein a set of electronic page images is created, such as by scanning a set of original documents, storing the electronic page images in memory, and wherein certain images are variably shifted on the output sheets. The amount of image shift is dependent upon the size dimensions of the original documents and the size dimensions of the output sheets. This size dependent shifting allows for printing onto output sheets of varying sizes, or scanning from original documents of different sizes, such as from different scanning modes. The variable image shift is particularly useful for printing on tabs where the original documents are all of a standard size, and the images are specially shifted onto the tabs during printing.

Abstract: An image signal processing apparatus has an address generator that generates addresses for successive words of a digital input signal representing an input image to be manipulated. A computation circuit monitors the addresses for successive word sets which each comprise first and second words relatively horizontally spaced in the input image and a third word aligned vertically with the second word, and computes from each set both horizontal and vertical local scaling factors representing the extent of compression in the horizontal and vertical directions of a corresponding local area of the manipulated image. A bandwidth controller is responsive to the successive scaling factors to vary the horizontal and vertical bandwidths of a digital filter which two-dimensionally filters the input image, thereby to minimize aliasing that would be caused by the manipulation of the local areas.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for interpolating an input image and outputting an interpolated input image, includes a pipeline operation unit for selectively performing interpolation operations at a plurality of magnifications, a CPU for causing address counters to select one of the plurality of interpolation magnifications for the pipeline operation unit on the basis of an input image pixel count, an output medium pixel count, a designated output image count, and a designated output image layout, a display or printer for outputting an image interpolated by the pipeline operation unit in accordance with the designated output image layout. The input image is interpolated at a magnification determined such that a size of an output image falls within an area an output medium.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises an image-area discriminating circuit for discriminating the attribute of an image, such as whether it is a character/line image or a dot image or whether or not it is an isolated point noise, and outputting a discrimination result, an enlargement/reduction processing circuit for performing enlargement/reduction processing on an image, and a filtering circuit for controlling the spatial frequency response of an image in accordance of a discrimination signal.

Abstract: An image communication apparatus having a mode to transmit image data with unity-magnification and a mode to transmit the image data with size reduction, comprises a selector for selecting one of the unity-magnification transmission mode and the reduced size transmission mode and a setter for setting one of different minimum transmission times in accordance with the mode selected by the selector.