Minimize Discontinuities In Dot-matrix Image Data (i.e., Connecting Or Merging The Dots) Patents (Class 382/267)
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Patent number: 7370976Abstract: The device has flexure correcting means for operating to rotate a first eccentric cam provided at a central part of a first side of a reflecting mirror, thereby moving up and down the central part of the first side to correct the flexure of the reflecting mirror, torsion correcting means for operating to rotate a second eccentric cam or/and a third eccentric cam provided at the ends of a second side opposed to the first side of the reflecting mirror, thereby moving up and down both ends of the second side of the reflecting mirror to correct the torsion of the reflecting mirror, and a rotation operation portion provided at each of extended ends of camshafts provided at the eccentric cams to correct the flexure and torsion of the reflecting mirror.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2007Date of Patent: May 13, 2008Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventor: Tsuneo Fujinuma
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Patent number: 7355744Abstract: 600 dpi binary character shape data is created from 600 dpi character data inputted by a PC and written sequentially to a memory. The 600 dpi character data inputted from the PC and 300 dpi image data are stored as 300 dpi 8-bit graphics data. Next, 600 dpi 8-bit multi-value graphics data is created by dividing each pixel in the 300-dpi 8-bit graphics data into four small pixels. First and second correction processes are performed using a first correction table and the superimposed data is printed at a uniform 600 dpi printing density.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2004Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroshi Hattori
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Patent number: 7336396Abstract: An image processing apparatus extracts a contour pixel of a binary input image signal in a contour pixel extraction portion, and calculates a line thinning amount from the extracted contour pixel based on a preset parameter in a line thinning amount calculation portion. The apparatus judges whether black pixel areas of the binary input image signal are connected in a finite area including a target pixel in a finite area connectivity judgment portion. The apparatus adds a line thinning amount to the binary input image signal of the target pixel in accordance with the judgment by the finite area connectivity judgment portion and outputs obtained results in a selective correction output portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2003Date of Patent: February 26, 2008Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Gaku Takano, Naofumi Yamamoto
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Patent number: 7327898Abstract: A method is disclosed which reduces the boundary effects on an image based on maintaining local gray. The image is first halftoned and an adjustment is then made at the boundary region to minimize the brightness deviation of the halftone from the original contone. The adjustment is composed of three steps. First, a low-pass filtering is performed in halftones in the boundary regions, which are typically a few pixels wide along the boundary. The filtering result is then compared to the original contone image and an error map is generated. Finally, the pixels in the boundary regions are adjusted to reduce the magnitudes of the errors.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2003Date of Patent: February 5, 2008Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Zhigang Fan
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Patent number: 7277591Abstract: A method of edge-smoothing in raster images includes: selecting an object in a raster image, the object including an edge having a plurality of edge pixels; finding all of the edge pixels of the object and generating a polygon having a plurality of vertices, each of which is located at the center of a corresponding one of the edge pixels; smoothing the polygon of the object to generate a smoothed polygon; and smoothing the object according to the smoothed polygon.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2003Date of Patent: October 2, 2007Assignee: Bentley Systems, Inc.Inventor: Stéphane Côté
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Patent number: 7231096Abstract: A method and system for reproducing an image on a carrier, the method includes: generating a conjoined first and second sub-image, each representative for a portion of the image; defining an overlap region where both sub-images give a contribution to the internal optical density of the carrier; dividing the overlap region in a partition of microdots; establishing for each sub-image a peripheral edge in the overlap region; increasing the contribution by the first sub-image from the peripheral edge of the first sub-image to the peripheral edge of the second sub-image; and assigning to at least one microdot an intermediate microscopic density different from a minimum or maximum microscopic density of microdots; wherein the contribution increases the microscopic density of the microdots by density steps smaller than half the difference between the minimum and maximum microscopic densities of the microdots.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2003Date of Patent: June 12, 2007Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.Inventors: Dirk Broddin, Mario Verbruggen, Serge Tavernier
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Patent number: 7064759Abstract: An area within a frame is defined in which text or an image is to be generated. The text or image may also include an optional border surrounding and adjacent to the text or image. In accordance with one embodiment, in order to increase the contrast between the text or image and the background area of the frame, one or more color component values are selected for use in generating the text/image (or associated border). Specifically, a complement of one or more color component values associated with one or more pixels of the frame are determined. The complement may, for example, be obtained from an average color component value over a set of pixels. Alternatively, the complement may be obtained directly for each of a set of pixels in the frame from which an average value may then be obtained. The complemented-averaged color component value(s) may then be used to generate the text/image and/or associated border.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2003Date of Patent: June 20, 2006Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventors: Gary F. Feierbach, John Bates
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Patent number: 7064865Abstract: An image processing method and device includes the steps of detecting a crossing point that has a largest density value among pixels aligned in one direction and a smallest density value among pixels aligned in another direction, the directions being perpendicular to each other; determining a dot area of an image based on a detection of crossing points; and switching image data processing methods based on a result of a determination of a dot area.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2001Date of Patent: June 20, 2006Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventor: Atsushi Ishikawa
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Patent number: 7057764Abstract: A full-color image input from an external apparatus can undergo an optimal adaptive process using an image area separation circuit mounted in a color copying machine main body, and also attribute map information, thus providing a higher-quality image. When a color copying machine (18) prints an image such as a computer graphics image sent from a host computer (10), a raster image processor (13) renders bitmap data of a given recording color on an image memory (15) on the basis of that print data, and stores attribute information in an attribute map memory (16) in units of pixels. The color copying machine (18) forms an image on the basis of image data of respective recording color components, which are frame-sequentially input from the raster image processor (13), and attribute information from the attribute map memory (16).Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2000Date of Patent: June 6, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tsutomu Sakaue
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Patent number: 7009622Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a command analyzing unit obtaining color information of each endpoint of an object by analyzing a drawing command, a draw processing unit obtaining the color information of successive scanned points inside the object through incremental interpolation of the color information, thereby successively producing the color information for an entirety of the object, and an image processing unit processing the color information outputted by the draw processing unit.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2004Date of Patent: March 7, 2006Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Naoto Shiraishi
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Patent number: 6971072Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reactively controlling one or more user interfaces associated with a device based on sensed conditions in an environment associated with at least one of the user interfaces are provided. A method of controlling at least one user interface associated with a device includes sensing conditions in an environment which includes the at least one user interface of the device. Then, the method includes presenting data at the at least one user interface as a function of the sensed conditions. For example, the sensing step may include detecting a proximity of a user with respect to the user interface such that the presenting step includes presenting data at the user interface as a function of the detected proximity. The proximity of the user to the user interface may be measured as a distance value between the user and the user interface such that data is presented at the user interface in a different manner or mode based on the distance value.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 1999Date of Patent: November 29, 2005Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Mitchell Jay Stein
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Patent number: 6891549Abstract: A method for generating an enhanced image includes the steps of: (a) receiving a matrix of pixels representative of an image; (b) generating a gradient image representative of a difference between values of adjacent pixels; (c) calculating a center of mass for each pixel of the gradient image in response to gradient intensity values and location values of neighboring pixels; and (d) generating an enhanced image by modifying intensity values of pixels of the matrix of pixels that are located in a vicinity of local centers of mass in response to intensity values of pixels that are further displaced from the local centers of mass.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2002Date of Patent: May 10, 2005Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventor: Yaron I. Gold
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Patent number: 6870964Abstract: In an image replication circuit, the improvement of replicating a given element at a certain location with the most similar of surrounding sets of image elements.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2000Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignees: Pixel Instruments Corporation, IP Innovation LLCInventor: Carl Cooper
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Patent number: 6690837Abstract: For the reproduction of originals, images are generated on an image carrier, for example by printing. The imaging device that generates the image is usually not capable to cover at once the complete image area on the carrier. If the device is capable to cover the full width of the image area, the image may be generated line by line. Devices not having this capability will generate a first portion of an image line on the carrier. An adjacent second portion of the image line is then generated by another imaging device or after a period of time by the imaging device that generated the first portion. The region where the first and second portion meet on the carrier may cause visual artefacts on the final reproduction due to spatial misregistration of the adjacent line portions. This problem is solved by dividing the image in adjacent sub-images having an overlap zone on the carrier.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 1999Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Assignees: AGFA-Gevaert, Xeikon NV.Inventors: Dirk Broddin, Mario Verbruggen, Serge Tavernier
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Patent number: 6668100Abstract: An image processing device and method for convert multi-value image data having light and dark information per pixel into binary data for pseudo half-tone representation. A binarization results delay unit holds binarized data near the pixel of interest obtained by a binarizing unit, a slice value control unit calculates the amount of change in the slice value based on the concentration of the image or the binarized data pattern thereof, and determines the binarized slice value S based on the amount of change in slice value. The binarizing unit binarizing input image signals using the binarized slice value S. Thus, control of the amount of dot concentration in an arbitrary concentration area, and accurate control of texture can be realized.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 1998Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Kaburagi, Shigeo Yamagata
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Patent number: 6665454Abstract: A method of accurately detecting the value of a dot of sensed image data, said image data comprising an array of dots and said sensed image data comprising a sampling of said image data at a rate greater than the pitch frequency of said array of dots so as to produce an array of pixels, said method comprising the steps of: determining an expected middle pixel of said array of pixels, said middle pixel corresponding to an expected central location of a corresponding dot; utilizing the sensed value of said middle pixel and the sensed value of a number of adjacent pixels as an index to a lookup table having an output corresponding to the value of a dot centred around the corresponding location of said pixel.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 1998Date of Patent: December 16, 2003Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Kia Silverbrook, Simon Robert Walmsley
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Patent number: 6661929Abstract: An imaging system that uses an array controller which is adapted to imaging arrays having black cells to control an imaging array not having black cells. The imaging system includes an array controller that is adapted to process a scan line that includes one or more black pixels. The imaging system includes an imaging array not having black cells that generates a series of pixel data samples in response to light from an image. The imaging system includes circuitry for generating the scan line by synthesizing the black level pixels and combining the black pixels with the series of pixel data samples.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 1999Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: Mark T. Smith
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Patent number: 6606099Abstract: A display device for creating intermediate gradation levels includes a detection circuit for generating a control signal when a change in gradation of one gradation level is detected between adjacent image data, and when it is detected that the numbers of gradations of a plurality of pieces of image data before a gradation change are equal to each other and the numbers of gradations of a plurality of pieces of image data after a gradation change are equal to each other, and a conversion circuit for performing at least one of the process for converting the gradation level of image data before the gradation change into the gradation level of image data after the gradation change in one of two frames which are adjacent with respect to time, and the process for converting the gradation level of image data after the gradation change into the gradation level of image data before the gradation change in one of two frames which are adjacent with respect to time.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2001Date of Patent: August 12, 2003Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yukimitsu Yamada
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Patent number: 6590617Abstract: This invention can suppress overshoot/undershoot, and can maintain the improvement effect of the leading edge of an edge portion. For this purpose, a second derivative signal generator (1) generates a second derivative signal (s5) on the basis of time-serially input three successive pixels. A second derivative signal suppression unit (2) generates a signal (s8) obtained by suppressing the second derivative signal, and a signal (s9) indicating the sign of the second derivative signal. The absolute values of the differences between the pixel of interest, and its neighboring pixels are computed, and a smaller one of the absolute values is selected as a signal (s14) by a minimum value selection circuit (18). By multiplying the obtained signals (s8, s9, s14) by a multiplier (19), an edge-emphasizing signal (s15) is generated. The edge-emphasizing signal (s15) is added to the signal of the pixel of interest by an adder (20), thus obtaining an edge-emphasized signal s16.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2000Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Izumi Kanai, Yukio Hiraki, Kohei Inamura
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Patent number: 6587593Abstract: An image processing device of the present invention is provided with an area position specifying device and a computing device. When the user specifies a desired object by using the area position specifying device, the computing device generates an emphasized image, in which the specified object is emphasized, and a line image, and the computing device further produces a composite image of these images so as to achieve an illustration image. In addition to the line image, the emphasized image is produced so that it is possible to emphasize an object desired by the user regardless of a state of the line image; consequently, it is possible to generate a natural illustration image in accordance with the actual image.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1999Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsuro Matsuoka, Ryuji Funayama, Harunobu Mori, Hajime Takezawa, Minehiro Konya
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Patent number: 6583897Abstract: A method of smoothing edges of an input image is provided for use in connection with an image rendering engine that supports two opposing intensity levels and a range of intermediate intensity levels there between. The method includes sampling scan lines from the input image. Each scan line includes an array of pixels, and each pixel possesses one of the two opposing intensity levels. Simultaneously a plurality of the scan lines are buffered. Thereafter, the method includes detecting defined patterns in an unbounded region within the buffered scan lines. Finally, intensity levels of selected pixels are adjusted to intermediate intensity levels in response to the defined patterns detected.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 1999Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Steven J. Harrington
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Patent number: 6580837Abstract: A method for determining a value for an unknown picture element (pixel) T based on neighboring pixel values of a checkerboard decimated color plane. Immediate and extended neighborhood pixel values are selected. In one configuration, immediate neighborhood pixel values are averaged. In another configuration, all neighborhood pixels are averaged. A binary pattern is determined by comparing the average with each immediate and extended neighborhood pixel values. The binary pattern is reduced to identify a set of coefficients for the binary pattern. A summed cross-product is computed for the set of coefficients and each pixel value of the immediate and extended neighborhoods. In one configuration, coefficients are stored in look up tables, where different tables correspond to different input image types. In another configuration, multiple lookup tables are stored within input images, allowing different image reconstruction options based on the embedded tables.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 1999Date of Patent: June 17, 2003Assignee: Intel CorporationInventor: Louis Johnson
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Patent number: 6529637Abstract: In an image replication circuit, the improvement of replicating a given element at a certain location with the most similar of surrounding sets of image elements.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 1995Date of Patent: March 4, 2003Assignees: Pixel Instruments Corporation, IP Innovation LLCInventor: Carl Cooper
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Patent number: 6525845Abstract: Image information is re-calibrated based on the type of marking process and materials by which the image corresponding to the image information was marked on a substrate. The marking process is automatically detected by using, for example, at least one spatial characteristic obtained from the image information.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 1999Date of Patent: February 25, 2003Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Gaurav Sharma, Stuart A. Schweid, Jeng-Nan Shiau
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Patent number: 6501483Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for an anti-aliasing process that allows for super-sampling at a high subpixel resolution, but does not require the process and memory resources typically required for conventional super-sampling at this subpixel resolution. Each pixel is partitioned into an array that provides for a large number of subpixels, and a smaller set of super-samples from this set of subpixels are sampled and used to determine the resultant pixel values. Because the set of super-samples is substantially smaller in number (less than half) than the number of subpixels, the processing and memory requirements are substantially reduced. The set of super-samples are preferably determined so as to provide for a uniform sampling frequency in each of the major axes, and along each diagonal, even though the super-samples may not provide an uniform sampling of each pixel area.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1998Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: ATI Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Wong, Milivoje M. Aleksic
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Patent number: 6449391Abstract: Segmentation of a character-containing image, made by placing a dark mark against a light background, is accomplished by establishing a vertical pixel projection for each pixel column in the image. For more exact segmentation, the image is horizontally scanned in each row of the image after detecting edges of characters. The scanned results and thresholds are compared to verify whether edges and spaces of the scanned row are noise or discontinuous edges. The thresholds correlate with neighboring row data of the image. According to the results of the comparison, the discontinuous edges are connected and the noise is eliminated. Thereby, the character-containing image can be segmented into each character without segmentation errors.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1999Date of Patent: September 10, 2002Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jeong-Hoe Ku
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Patent number: 6384825Abstract: A signal acquisition instrument acquires a succession of waveform records and sequentially transfers the waveform records to a rasterizer for rasterizing the waveform records to generate respective rasterized records each composed of a set of vectors, but inhibits transfer of a current waveform record to the rasterizer until a previous waveform record has been rasterized. The maximum number of dots (M) in each vector is made as large as possible provided that the rasterizer does not complete rasterization of the previous waveform record after acquisition of the current waveform record is complete.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1998Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: Jeff W. Yost, Paul M. Gerlach
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Patent number: 6262813Abstract: An image data processing apparatus that conserves a memory used for correcting a dot of a bit-mapped image data includes a data window, a pattern recognition mechanism, a determining mechanism, an information converter, and a memory block. The data window reads the bit-mapped image data by capturing dot patterns. The pattern recognition mechanism recognizes a figure of a line segment formed between black and white dot areas included in the captured dot pattern. The pattern recognition mechanism also generates a n-bit code that has a value corresponding to the recognized figure of the line segment. The n-bit code potentially has 2n different values for representing specific figures of the line segment. The determining mechanism determines whether the dot of interest needs a correction.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 1998Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Masakazu Ohtani
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Patent number: 6101286Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide an image processing apparatus which, when nonmagnetic mono-component development is performed, prevents the formation of white gaps in pattern boundaries between different colors and thereby prevents degradation in the image quality of the formed image. To achieve this object, in one embodiment of the invention, the density value VD(n) of the nth pixel on a certain line is applied to the A input terminal of a selector 207, and the density value VD(n-1) of the (n-1)th pixel is applied to the B input terminal of the selector 207. A subtracter 203 calculates the increase of VD(n) from VD(n-1). If a comparator 204 determines that the increase is a predetermined value C1 or less, a selection signal in the selector 207 is so set that the terminal B (the value of the immediately preceding pixel) is selected.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 1996Date of Patent: August 8, 2000Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Satoshi Shimizu, Haruo Fujii, Hiroshi Sasame, Tatsuya Kobayashi, Takashi Kawana, Tetsuya Kobayashi, Naoki Enomoto, Akihiko Uchiyama, Yoshiro Saito, Yoichiro Maebashi, Takaaki Tsuruya
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Patent number: 5982940Abstract: A plurality of regions are set for input image data formed of a plurality of pixels. A characteristic parameter for each region is extracted in accordance with a state of distribution in each region. Vectors representing relationships between the regions are calculated based on the extracted characteristic parameters. A filter is produced in accordance with the calculated vector. Using the filter, the image data is filtered. In this manner, jaggies, discontinuities and satellite dots appearing at characters and lines of the image are removed and corrected.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 1996Date of Patent: November 9, 1999Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kenichi Sawada
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Patent number: 5940190Abstract: A facsimile printer (1) in which sets of one or two pels contiguous to longer lines of such pels are reduced or eliminated. When reduced the smaller pels are positioned continuous to the longer line and are extended one pel on each side where the longer line exists. This reduces scanner errors and significantly improves images. Gray effects from dithering are not significantly effected when the pels are reduced and spread. When the image is graphic or otherwise more random than text scanned in the line and column direction, the correction may be deactivated.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 1993Date of Patent: August 17, 1999Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Gary Scott Overall, Phillip Byron Wright
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Patent number: 5822469Abstract: A post-filtering method and apparatus for increasing the high-frequency and edge information of halftoned images is described. If a continuous-tone (contone) image is processed by a halftoning algorithm into a binary or multi-level image, some of the high frequency information is lost. However, some of the lost information can be restored by judiciously rearranging some of the halftone picture elements (pixels). Each horizontally adjacent pair of pixels in the contone image are compared with each other. If the difference between their luminance is greater than a threshold, then the corresponding pair of adjacent pixels in the halftone image are compared. If the difference between the halftone image pixels has the opposite sign of the differences between the contone image pixels (e.g., the image changes from dark to light, but the halftone pixels change from light to black), the two halftone pixels are exchanged with each other. The procedure is then repeated in the vertical direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 1996Date of Patent: October 13, 1998Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventor: D. Amnon Silverstein
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Patent number: 5801843Abstract: An improved method for providing a more faithful and pleasing rendition of a pixel pattern is described herein. This method first places the original pixel pattern in a bit mapped memory. A small portion of this bit mapped pattern, called an input tile, acts as an address for a look-up table containing a corrected pixel pattern portion (an output tile) corresponding to the target pixels to be corrected in the input tile. To derive the output tiles stored in the look-up table, a high resolution bit map is created from an input tile by scaling the input tile. A triangular portion of each convex corner in the high resolution bit map is chopped off, and a triangular portion of each concave corner in the high resolution bit map is filled in. The resulting pattern is then smoothed using a low pass filter. The size of these triangular portions and the extent of low pass filtering are determined using a function based on the vulnerability of a pixel to being eliminated during the above smoothing process.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 1996Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventor: Mark A. Overton
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Patent number: 5790269Abstract: Edge or contour information is extracted from an image array by filtering and encoded. In order to improve reproduction accuracy, two separate filters are used to detect edge information. One of the filters detects "sharp" edges, or edges in which the discontinuity in pixel intensity values occurs over a range of a few pixels. The other filter detects "level" edges in which the pixel intensity value discontinuity occurs over a larger range of pixels than the "sharp" edges. The "smooth" areas between edges or contours are assumed to vary continuously between the contours, but for efficient implementation, a one-dimensional linear interpolation is used to regenerate the contour information between edges. In addition, to further improve performance, a line is fitted to the pixel intensity data. The end values of this line are then used for the pixel intensity data.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 1995Date of Patent: August 4, 1998Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Ichiro Masaki, Ujjaval Desai, Anantha Chandrakasan, Berthold Horn
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Patent number: 5790711Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of normally carrying out correct and moreover highly precise smoothing while preventing the complication of the smoothing process and which is able to reliably carry out the smoothing process even when the line density of the image data is multiplied by a predetermined factor. When the black-white pattern of pixel data in a predetermined area is a specific pattern, the judging and line density conversion circuit determines whether a predetermined pixel data is black or white by referring to the black-white pattern of pixel data existing in the main scanning direction of the pixel data as well as the black-white pattern of pixel data existing in a predetermined area. As the line density of the image data can be simultaneously multiplied by a predetermined factor, more precise smoothing is possible.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 1996Date of Patent: August 4, 1998Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yasuyuki Murakami
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Patent number: 5771107Abstract: An image processor is provided which emphasis-processes an image to be copied with attention to the detection of black edges so that clear color copy outputs are obtained. R, G and B data read out from an original by a scanner are converted into C, M and Y complementary color data by a complementary color reversing circuit. The complementary color data are transmitted to a black edge processing circuit and to a black edge detecting circuit. The black edge detecting circuit detects the inside or the outside of a black edge, and in accordance therewith, the black edge processing circuit, for example, changes the coefficient of a spatial filter. The output of the black edge processing circuit is outputted to a printer through a black generating circuit, a tone correcting circuit and a half tone processing circuit.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1995Date of Patent: June 23, 1998Assignee: Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masaya Fujimoto, Tadashi Miyazaki, Shinji Hayashi
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Patent number: 5757982Abstract: In its basic aspects, the present invention uses a 3.times.3 data window to examine and to convert data in a 2.times.-resolution enhancement. Data is altered from a linear 2.times.-expansion method if and when the 3.times.3 data meets four criteria that determines the frequency content of the original 3.times.3 data window subset. The criteria are deterministic of whether a random pattern--such as in a graphical artwork figure--or a logical frequency domain pattern--namely text characters, numbers, or the like--are being printed. The method is particularly useful in dot matrix, or bit mapped, printing and the like. The data smoothing method is employed only after it is determined that a logical frequency domain pattern is being analyzed.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 1994Date of Patent: May 26, 1998Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventor: Warangkana Tepmongkol
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Patent number: 5649028Abstract: The present invention provides a device for automatically creating a connect-the-dots drawing from an existing image. Edge detection techniques are used to determine the edges in an image and corner points are determined along the edges. The corner points are then ordered and outputted with numbers to create the connect-the-dots drawing.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 1994Date of Patent: July 15, 1997Inventor: Steven J. Hollinger
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Patent number: 5625768Abstract: An incremental orthogonal error correction process for 3D graphics for correcting errors or otherwise reducing abrupt changes in the characteristics of adjacent pixels while interpolating a polygon into a pixel grid. Error values are calculated for each desired characteristic to be corrected, where the error values are calculated based on the slope of the main slope and the orthogonal slope of the corresponding characteristic value. Thus, the error values adjust the characteristics of the pixels in the scan line to adjust for the slant of the main slope of the polygon. An interpolator for each corrected characteristic accumulates the error value in the opposite direction as the corresponding orthogonal slope. When the fractional component of the x parameter overflows, the orthogonal slope values are subtracted from the corresponding accumulated error values to thereby reduce the magnitude of the error values.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 1994Date of Patent: April 29, 1997Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.Inventor: Thomas A. Dye
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Patent number: 5623555Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a reconstructed image from a compressed image. An exemplary method in accordance with the present invention includes the steps of identifying pairs of compressed image data points having a connection therebetween in a linear segment approximation of the reconstructed image; estimating timing information such as a number of original image data points between each of the connected pairs of compressed image data points; and fitting a spline segment to each of the pairs of compressed image data points and the estimated number of original image data points corresponding thereto, such that the fitted spline segments in combination form the reconstructed image. The reconstructed image may then be smoothed by replacing spline segments which produce undesirable deviations in the reconstructed image with conic section spline segments.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 1994Date of Patent: April 22, 1997Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.Inventors: Winston L. Nelson, William Turin
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Patent number: 5528296Abstract: A graphics data unit (17) for a digital television receiver (10) that uses a spatial light modulator (16). The graphics data unit (17) has a graphics processor (22), which offloads graphics processing tasks, such as for closed captioning and on-screen display, from a main processor (14). The graphics data unit (17) also has a character memory (24), which stores fonts for closed caption and on-screen display characters. A read-only memory (22a) stores graphics primitives. The character fonts and the graphics primitives may be adapted to compensate for staggered pixel layouts of the spatial light modulator (16).Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1994Date of Patent: June 18, 1996Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Robert J. Gove, Richard C. Meyer, John R. Reder, Scott D. Heimbuch
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Patent number: 5488673Abstract: An image processing apparatus is arranged such that corrected data for an input objective pixel is obtained by adding the input data for that pixel and data distributed to the position of that pixel, the corrected data is then quantized (e.g., binarized), and, based on the error occurring in quantization, calculating values to be distributed to respective non-quantized neighboring pixels, based on predetermined weighting factors corresponding to the respective positions of those neighboring pixels. The values so calculated are then distributed to the appropriate neighboring pixel positions, and total sum of those values is subtracted from the value of the error, and this difference is in turn distributed to the position of one neighboring pixel located differently with respect to the objective pixel position, at least each time the position of the objective pixel is updated.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 1994Date of Patent: January 30, 1996Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akihiro Katayama, Hidefumi Oosawa